Apple’s CEO Tim Cook made more than a few jaws drop when he presented a golden gift to President Donald Trump at a White House press event on Aug. 6. It was an engraved piece of Apple glass mounted on a luxurious 24-karat gold base.

During the meeting in the Oval Office, Cook gave Trump a hearty handshake and exclaimed, “Congratulations, Mr. President!” after describing the gift as “a unique unit of one” created by a former Marine Corps corporal who now works at Apple. “He designed it for you,” said Cook.

It’s customary for foreign leaders visiting the White House to come bearing traditional gifts, but not so for U.S. CEOs, who typically don’t engage in performative or diplomatically sensitive gift-giving exchanges.

But Trump’s tariffs kicked in the next day, on Aug. 7, slamming more th

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