Tim Cook Joins White House Dinner With Saudi Crown Prince

Apple CEO Tim Cook joined a White House dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting came during the prince’s visit to the United States, which took place for the first time since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Central Intelligence Agency later concluded that the crown prince ordered the murder.

As the visit continued, President Trump defended the prince during a press interaction. He downplayed concerns about Khashoggi’s death and shifted attention back to the diplomatic relationship. Later in the evening, Cook joined other tech leaders at the event, reflecting how closely the technology sector remains tied to global politics. The New York Times highlighted Cook’s presence along with several other major executives.

Cook’s Relationship With Saudi Arabia

Cook previously met the crown prince in 2018 to discuss education and app development opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Since then, Apple has invested over $2 billion in Saudi companies, strengthening its ties to the region. Cook also visited the country in December 2024 and agreed to bring Apple retail stores to Saudi Arabia in 2026. Apple already launched an online store there in July 2025.

At the same time, Apple faced criticism for hosting a Saudi government-linked app that lets men track the movement of their wives and daughters. Cook said in 2019 that he would review the app, but it remains available today. This tension continues to raise questions about how big tech companies balance ethics with business interests.

Other Tech Leaders in Attendance

Elon Musk, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, and Linda Su also attended the dinner. Their presence showed how Washington relies on industry leaders when navigating global relationships. Cook himself also attended Trump’s presidential inauguration, further tying him to past White House events.

The dinner marked another moment where technology, politics, and global power met at the same table.