Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook gifted President Donald Trump a plaque with a base made of 24-karat gold, and attended a White House dinner at which he addressed the room for two minutes, and in that time he repeated the words “thank you” to Trump nine times.

This past Saturday night, he again met with Trump, this time at a screening of a flattering documentary about First Lady Melania Trump. No, Apple didn’t make or even license the movie. Its competitor did, but Cook attended the screening anyway.

This might lead one to worry that Cook doesn’t recognize the gravity of what federal agents are doing in Minneapolis right now. No matter one’s politics, the horrifying deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal troops are pretty easy to speak about in at least somewhat human terms. Even Ted Cruz managed to talk about Good at one point without sounding like a total monster. 

Tim Cook’s oddly timed movie attendance, might, if I didn’t know better, be a hint that he’s not reading the room super well, and that me may lack the insight into political events of, say, the increasing number of his fellow Trump-friendly figures willing to speak frankly about the obvious violent overreach happening amid the ICE crackdown in Minneapolis. 

But fortunately, Cook has issued a statement to Apple employees in which he says “This is a time for deescalation.” Don’t you feel better already?

Oddly enough, Trump used similar language earlier today, saying “We’re gonna deescalate a little bit.”

Cook’s statement doesn’t mention ICE, or other federal agencies, or the names of anyone who has died, or specify anything beyond the word “Minneapolis.” But that doesn’t mean it’s pure fluff meant to pat his employees on their heads and nothing more. After all, Cook says he had “a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views.” So we can all rest easy that Trump is finally chastened.

Here’s the full statement (originally leaked to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on Tuesday night):

Team,

I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.

This is a 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 where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.

I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.

Thank you for all that you do.
Tim