"Bribing President Live On TV Is Wild": Internet Reacts After Apple CEO Tim Cook Gifts ... Trump Block Of 24-Karat Gold During Investment Announcement

In a moment that has sparked widespread controversy online, Apple CEO Tim Cook presented former US President Donald Trump with a custom Apple product featuring a 24-carat gold base, live on national television. The gift was handed over during a high-profile announcement in which Apple pledged a staggering $600 billion investment in US-based manufacturing, R&D, and workforce expansion over the next decade. The event, framed as a celebration of American innovation and job creation, quickly took a sharp political turn.

While the investment itself drew headlines for its scale and long-term vision, it was Cook’s lavish gift to Trump that captured public attention and ignited fierce backlash across social media platforms. The internet reaction was swift. A user named Daniel accused Cook of bribing the President. He said, "Bribing the President with a block of gold live on TV is wild."

Bribing the President with a block of gold live on TV is wild https://t.co/NFB7exc5RZ

— Daniel (@growing_daniel) August 7, 2025

The reactions of the Internet were intense, and at times scathing, accusing both parties of crossing ethical boundaries in broad daylight.

Trump is such shameless buffoon,he will make up lies in his delusional imagination of stopping war to get Nobel prize,take bribes on live TV,be it from Tim Cook or from Qatar's PM.Such a gold digger. No othr presidents of United States has been this much shameless&least respected https://t.co/WgOQDjhErL

— Falcon (@Falcon_0967) August 7, 2025

🇺🇸 America’s Modern Barter System?

Tim Cook gifts Trump a custom Apple glass with a 24K gold base + promises $600B investment 💰

In return, Trump hints Apple may bypass the 100% semiconductor tariff 👀#Apple #Trump #TimCook #USChina #Semiconductor #TradeWar #BarterPolitics pic.twitter.com/FPE0U5dU0h

— Bharat Sanatan Vani (भारत सनातन वाणी) (@bharatvani023) August 7, 2025

Depressing and infuriating to see Apple CEO Tim Cook gifting Donald Trump a custom gold Apple product in exchange for preferential treatment and likely federal contracts.

Please @climatevoice mobilize their staff https://t.co/cD1DpnQenT

— Alberto Alemanno (@alemannoEU) August 7, 2025

Moral collapse in action https://t.co/qYGE7KrqFu

— Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) August 7, 2025

Moral collapse in action https://t.co/qYGE7KrqFu

— Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) August 7, 2025

“This feels like something you do for Kim Jong Un to avoid having your family fed to pigs. I guess that's where we are now,” one user remarked, comparing the act to authoritarian practices. Another likened the scene to Soviet-era pageantry, saying, “These are like the gifts that Politburo members used to give to Brezhnev.”

This feels like something you do for Kim Jong Un to avoid having your family fed to pigs. I guess that's where we are now.

— Warren (@swd2) August 6, 2025

These are like the gifts that Politburo members used to give to Brezhnev https://t.co/zcugO0obvb

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 7, 2025

Some viewed the moment as emblematic of deeper problems. “Moral collapse in action,” read a tweet expressing dismay at what was seen as corporate pandering in exchange for political favor. Others accused Apple of bartering with the former president, citing a tweet that noted, “America’s Modern Barter System? Tim Cook gifts Trump a custom Apple glass with a 24K gold base + promises $600B investment. In return, Trump hints Apple may bypass the 100% semiconductor tariff.”

Criticism of Trump was equally blunt. One user called him a “shameless buffoon,” claiming, “No other president of the United States has been this much shameless and least respected.” Another took aim at both Apple and Trump, tweeting, “Depressing and infuriating to see Apple CEO Tim Cook gifting Donald Trump… in exchange for preferential treatment and likely federal contracts.”

As the clip of the gold handoff continues to circulate widely, the event has stirred debate not just about corporate influence in politics, but also about the optics and ethics of gift-giving at the highest levels of power.

Furthermore, with Apple now infusing so much investment into the US, it remains to be seen how that affects its plans in India. Apple wanted to assemble most of the iPhones shipped to the US from India, but with the new tariff warnings, the tech giant is likley to go back to the drawing board and rethink its strategy.

Trump has also asked tech giants to favour US citizens over immigrants as part of its hiring strategy.