Business1 min read

Trump floats Apple chairman Tim Cook as Jensen Huang’s successor

By · Via TechCrunch · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Donald Trump proposed the former Apple executive on Truth Social, declaring that a legend should replace a legend at the helm of the chipmaker. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of the Yale School of Management separately advocated for the appointment in an op-ed published by Time. Sonnenfeld argued that the executive's track record succeeding Steve Jobs makes him uniquely qualified to follow Jensen Huang. Cook currently serves as the Executive Chairman of Apple's board of directors after stepping down from his 15-year chief executive tenure on September 1, 2026.

Key points

  • Cook stepped down from his 15-year tenure as Apple chief executive on September 1, 2026.: Cook stepped down from his 15-year tenure as Apple chief executive on September 1, 2026.
  • Sonnenfeld emphasized Cook's successful experience replacing an iconic founder following…: Sonnenfeld emphasized Cook's successful experience replacing an iconic founder following Steve Jobs's tenure.
  • In his current role as Apple's Executive Chairman, Cook handles international relationshi…: In his current role as Apple's Executive Chairman, Cook handles international relationships and engages with global policymakers.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

In the wake of the industry-shaking news of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s resignation on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump is floating the idea that former Apple CEO Tim Cook should take over the position.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that “only one man” could take Huang’s place: Tim Cook of Apple.

“A Legend replaces a Legend!,” he wrote.

Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO on September 1, 2026, after 15 years running the company, but he’s still very much involved with Apple. While John Ternus took over as Apple’s CEO, Cook transitioned into the role of Executive Chairman of Apple’s board of directors, which sees him continuing to engage with global policymakers and manage international relationships, including Apple’s relations with China.

Trump is not the only one to suggest Cook as a replacement for Huang. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Leadership Studies at Yale School of Management, who studies CEO leadership and corporate governance, penned an op-ed in Time on Wednesday, suggesting Cook should be among the potential candidates. He wrote that Cook has “an unparalleled…

Business