Donald Trump’s controversial comments throughout the campaign season have unnerved Apple enough to convince the tech company to pull its funding and other support for the Republican National Convention, Politico reported this weekend.
Politico cites two sources familiar with Apple’s decision, saying it was communicated privately to Republicans and that it signals a “widening schism between Silicon Valley and the GOP’s bombastic presumptive nominee.”
In February, Trump called for a boycott of Apple products over the company’s refusal to give up confidential information from an iPhone owned by one of the terrorists involved in a shooting in San Bernadino, Calif. The FBI had been requesting that Apple supply the data.
Boycott all Apple products until such time as Apple gives cellphone info to authorities regarding radical Islamic terrorist couple from Cal
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2016
Trump had previously singled out Apple for overseas manufacturing when he said he was going to get the company to “start building their damn computers and things in this country” during a speech at Liberty University.
While Politico reports that tech companies generally try to court favor from Democrats and Republicans equally, Trump’s “inflammatory comments on Muslims, women and minority groups rankle progressive tech executives.”
Despite the decision on Trump, Politico reported Monday that Apple CEO Tim Cook will host a fundraiser with House Speaker Paul Ryan next week. Cook is hosting the event on his own accord, the site says, and the money benefits not only Ryan but a joint fundraising committee aimed at helping to elect other House Republicans.
