Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly called for “deescalation” following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, breaking the silence among major tech leaders as national outrage grows over President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy.
In a memo circulated to Apple employees and obtained by Bloomberg, Cook framed the moment as a test of American values and confirmed that he raised the issue directly with Trump during a recent conversation.
“It was time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week and shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.”
The statement came after days of mounting criticism directed at Cook, who attended a black-tie White House premiere of Amazon MGM’s Melania documentary just hours after Pretti’s killing. Images from the event, including a photo shared by the film’s director Brett Ratner showing him alongside Cook, circulated widely online and fueled backlash.
According to The Intercept, multiple Apple employees expressed frustration internally over Cook’s appearance at the event and his initial lack of public response to the shooting. Cook issued his memo on Tuesday evening amid that internal pressure. An Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Cook is among a small group of technology executives to address the Minneapolis incident at all. The shooting has become a flashpoint in Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which specifically targeted Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota. Earlier this month, Trump issued a warning on Truth Social aimed at Democrats in the state: “FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!”
Other tech leaders have voiced concern cautiously. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in an internal Slack message that “what’s happening with ICE is going too far. There is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what’s happening now, and we need to get the distinction right,” according to The New York Times. Still, Altman avoided direct criticism of Trump, later adding in a separate message, “President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country.”
The restrained tone reflects a broader calculation across Silicon Valley. Tech executives have been seeking to maintain access to the White House amid looming tariff threats and ongoing debates over how aggressively artificial intelligence should be regulated.
Outside the tech sector, the response has been louder. Hollywood figures including Tom Hanks and Glenn Close have spoken out publicly, and anti-ICE protests have surfaced at high-profile events such as the Sundance Film Festival.
By contrast, most media and entertainment CEOs have remained silent, echoing their response last summer when Trump federalized the National Guard in Los Angeles during an ICE crackdown in Southern California.
Industry lobbyists have warned companies against antagonizing the president as major mergers await approval and trade policy uncertainty continues to hang over the entertainment and technology sectors.
