Speaking at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, Apple CEO Tim Cook took a clear stance against Donald Trump’s immigration ban saying, “If we stand and say nothing, we become a part of it, our company thrives on diversity.”
Cook was at the university to receive an honorary degree.
Just a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning the entry of refugees and that of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. The ban extends to US visa holders from those countries.
The order faced immediate backlash from Americans and Silicon Valley. Almost 100 tech companies, including Apple, Facebook and Google have signed an amicus curiae brief in support of a lawsuit fighting the order.
US Federal Courts have since halted the order.
Despite the statement, Cook assured everyone at the university that Apple wasn’t a “political company”, reports Cnet.
Cook adds that “I don’t believe Apple is an activist and I don’t view myself as an activist.”
Stating that Apple is not shy, he went on to state that Apple will continue to address issues that it feels very strongly about, but that these issues are based on Apple’s beliefs and nothing else.