Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO; John Ternus Succeeds Him

Tim Cook formally stepped down as chief executive of Apple on September 1, 2026, with John Ternus succeeding him as CEO. Cook remains at Apple as executive chairman and takes on the role of the company's government affairs liaison. The arrangement allows him to continue representing Apple in its relations with the United States government and other governments, while the new CEO, Ternus, can focus more on day-to-day operations and the product business.

Cook will attend a state dinner at the White House on September 24. The dinner is being hosted by US President Donald Trump for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. Several technology company leaders and artificial intelligence industry representatives have been invited, including Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. This will be Cook's first international event in his new capacity as Apple's executive chairman and government affairs liaison since stepping down as CEO.

Cook and Trump have interacted considerably in the past. During his tenure as Apple CEO, Cook met with Trump on multiple occasions and attended related dinners. Cook has also maintained long-standing ties with the Chinese side. In 2015, during Barack Obama's presidency, he sat at the same table as Xi Jinping at a White House state dinner; earlier in 2026, when Xi hosted a state dinner for Trump in Beijing, Cook also attended.

The dinner comes as the US artificial intelligence industry debates regulatory issues. OpenAI and other AI companies have recently called on the government to further establish an AI regulatory framework, citing safety, risk control and the long-term development of AI technology as key reasons for advancing regulation. The US government currently takes a different stance on AI regulation. Trump has repeatedly stressed that the United States must not restrict the development of the AI industry through excessive regulation, lest it be placed at a disadvantage in technological competition with other countries, particularly China.

In recent years, the United States has continually adjusted its export policies on advanced chips, artificial intelligence and other high-tech products, while China has continued to push forward the development of its domestic semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Executives from companies including Nvidia and OpenAI are among those invited. Apple is currently advancing Apple Intelligence and related AI capabilities.

Cook's new position makes his role in Apple's government relations more prominent. During 15 years as CEO, he was also responsible for the company's global business, product strategy and government relations; with Ternus taking over as CEO, Cook can devote more time to government affairs and Apple's important external relationships worldwide. Issues involved in Apple's government relations include AI regulation, the chip supply chain, tariffs, manufacturing reshoring and US-China technology relations.