WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The President of the United States, Donald Trump, emphatically called upon Apple on Wednesday to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, following a resounding decision by the tech giant’s shareholders to uphold them despite mounting opposition from conservative factions. Prominent U.S. corporations, such as Meta and Alphabet, have already abandoned DEI initiatives upon Trump’s return to the presidency, branding them as discriminatory and suggesting potential legal scrutiny from the Department of Justice for potential violations.
In a forceful statement posted on the Truth Social platform in all capital letters, Trump asserted, “Apple should get rid of DEI rules, not just make adjustments to them. DEI was a hoax that has been very bad for our country. DEI is gone!!!” Apple refrained from an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the President’s stance.
The outcome of Tuesday’s vote during Apple’s annual meeting served as a litmus test for shareholders’ perspectives on DEI programs, which gained prominence in many organizations since 2020 amidst the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement. While proponents of these policies argue that they are essential in addressing entrenched biases, inequities, and discrimination, opponents of Apple’s DEI measures contended that recent legislative changes could lead to an upsurge in discrimination allegations should the company persist with such policies.
In January, Trump issued an executive order to discontinue DEI initiatives in both the federal government and the private sector, positing that such endeavors unfairly disadvantage certain Americans, including individuals of white ethnicity and men, while eroding the significance of merit-based practices in hiring and promotion decisions. Apple has emphasized its proactive oversight mechanisms to mitigate legal risks and criticized the proposal for unduly limiting managerial discretion.
Although Apple discloses workforce diversity statistics, it refrains from specifying numerical targets or quotas, channeling its DEI efforts towards initiatives like supporting historically Black colleges and universities through a racial justice program in the United States. Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook underscored the company’s historical approach of recruiting top talent and fostering a collaborative environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds converge to fuel innovation.
Nevertheless, Cook hinted at potential adjustments in response to evolving legal dynamics, stating, “As the legal landscape around these issues evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply, but our North Star of dignity and respect for everyone and our work to that end will never waver.”
(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Aditya Soni; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Arun Koyyur)
