Apple CEO Tim Cook raises civil rights topics in talks with President Trump

Apple CEO Tim Cook (CBS News)

In comments issued ahead of the interview with CBS Sunday Morning, set to be broadcast on Sunday, Tim Cook is revealed to have talked about sexual discrimination. A Supreme Court decision on June 15 ruled a federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination, making it illegal to fire an employee over their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"I was incredibly grateful for their opinion, and I applaud the justices who stood up and did that," Cook said in comments published by CBS News. "You know, to me, America is on a journey toward equality. And that is one more brick in the wall, and a very important one."

When asked about whether Cook brings up civil rights when talking to President Donald Trump, Cook confirms "Of course I do."

"I believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect," said Cook. It's basically that simple. And that we start life on this equal footing and then the people that work hard can get ahead and those sorts of things. But we should start life on an equal footing. And I long for that day."

On the subject of the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, Cook points out how some major world-changing events were only recorded because they were filmed on a smartphone, a situation Apple helped facilitate with the iPhone. Cook suggests putting a camera has "democratized" the situation by making it easier to create indisputable evidence of events.

For the George Floyd video itself, Cook proposed "I think fundamentally this one will change the world."

Cook has been a long-time campaigner for civil rights, with Apple using itself to promote changes in the world in a number of different areas.

In the time since the distribution of the George Floyd video and the protests that followed, Cook has written to employees asking them to be instruments of change for a better world, as well as advising of donations from the company to a number of groups challenging racial injustice. On June 4, Cook issued a public statement offering similar sentiments, insisting the company continues to push for more progress.

By June 11, Cook announced the creation of the Apple Racial Equality and Justice Initiative, a $100 million endeavor to support racial equality and justice across the United States, and around the world.