US executives from Apple, Tesla, Boeing and more, have accompanied Trump on a visit to Beijing to visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has left his successor, John Ternus, minding the store as he once again visits China. Rather than representing Apple per se, though, Cook is one of around a dozen senior US businesspeople invited to join Trump on his trip.

Cook reportedly did not travel with Trump on Air Force One. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, he has now been pictured at China's welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

He's also been filmed on social media walking alongside Elon Musk, and briefly greeting reporters.

Why Cook is in China

As Cook has previously learned, turning down an invitation from Trump just leads to problems for Apple. Beyond this politicking, though, the White House has reportedly claimed that the trip is to foster business deals for all concerned.

Consequently Trump's China summit is believed to be aimed at discussing trade, exports, AI, and also the war with Iran. Alongside Cook, Trump has brought with him:

  • BlackRock, Larry Fink
  • Blackstone, Stephen Schwarzman
  • Boeing, Kelly Ortberg
  • Cargill, Brian Sikes
  • Citi, Jane Fraser
  • Coherent, Jim Anderson
  • GE Aerospace, Larry Culp
  • Goldman Sachs, David Solomon
  • Illumina, Jacob Thaysen
  • Mastercard, Michael Miebach
  • Meta, Dina Powell McCormick
  • Micron, Sanjay Mehrotra
  • Qualcomm, Cristiano Amon
  • Visa, Ryan McInerney

The visit may also act as mediation, since while Trump has had his own clashes with Elon Musk, so has Cook. Apart from trivial lawsuits over Grok, and previous battles regarding satellite connectivity, it was reported back in 2021 that Musk had wanted to replace Cook and become Apple's CEO himself.

Similarly, a representative of Goldman Sachs was on the invitation list, and that firm had an ultimately acrimonious relationship with Apple over the Apple Card.

Nonetheless, Cook is present because of Trump. The incident where his refusing to accompany Trump on a trip led to a punishing tariff increase, is reportedly only one of the times that Cook has displeased Trump.

While there are few details of Cook falling foul of the White House, Trump himself says he helps Apple based on how nicely the CEO asks. "He makes these calls to me," wrote Trump on his social media platform, "I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask!)."

On the other hand, there are multiple public examples of Cook working to appease Trump. At the president's order, Cook has dined with the Saudi Crown Prince at the White House, and with Trump himself in Tokyo.

Cook appears to have also met with the UK's King Charles during the latter's recent state visit to Trump.

Along with his presentation of a gold trophy to Trump, Cook has also praised him at White House dinners. Cook also personally invested $1 million in Trump's inauguration.

Similarly, Apple was among the companies that donated to the ballroom, which in 2025, Trump said would be entirely privately funded and cost around $300 million. By May 2026, the cost was estimated to be $1 billion, and to be paid for by taxpayers.

The purpose of the China visit

Doubtlessly, Tim Cook's purpose in being on this new China trip is to keep relations between Apple and Trump as they are. But the official purpose is to discuss business deals and the relationship between the US and China.

According to China's Xinhua news agency, the country's foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has said that the local government is willing to work with the US "in the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit."

This is the first visit to China of a sitting US president in nine years. It's expected to last from May 13 to May 15.