President Trump says he’s having dinner with Apple CEO Tim Cook, praises him for ‘investing big dollars in U.S.A.’

Donald Trump Tim Cook

President Trump says in a tweet that he has dinner plans with Apple CEO Tim Cook.
That dinner will likely take place in Bedminister, New Jersey, where the President has been since August 3.
Cook has been vocal in his disapproval of certain Trump Administration policies, particularly around immigration and trade.

Diners in the vicinity of Bedminster, New Jersey could find themselves in very powerful company on Friday evening.

President Trump, who has been at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster since August 3, has dinner plans with Apple CEO Tim Cook, according to a tweet sent Friday.

"He is investing big dollars in U.S.A.," Trump said in the tweet. Recently, Trump claimed that Apple was building manufacturing 'plants' in the United States, though the tech titan has not announced any plans to do so. He said that Apple's investment in the United States was made possible by the tax reform laws passed late last year.

Representiatives for Cook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It's not immediately clear why the two are meeting, or what's on the agenda. But there's no question that the two could have a lot to talk about.

Like many in Silicon Valley, Cook has used his prominence to speak out against Trump Administration policies that he disagrees with. In particuarly, Cook has been a vocal critic of the administration's immigration policies.

In June, he said he prefers to only speak out on issues that contradict Apple's values, and that he is primarily concerned with education, the environment, human rights and immigration.

But recently Cook has also publicly disapproved of Trump's trade tariffs. In a conference call on July 31, Cook said that he hoped "calm heads prevail" in the escalating rounds of tariffs between the United States and China.

"Our view on tariffs is that they show up as a tax on the consumer and end up resulting in lower economic growth," Cook said at the time. "And sometimes can bring about significant risk of unintended consequences."

Had a very good phone call with @EmmanuelMacron, President of France. Discussed various subjects, in particular Security and Trade. Many other calls and conversations today. Looking forward to dinner tonight with Tim Cook of Apple. He is investing big dollars in U.S.A.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018