On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Apple to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies following a trend where several prominent companies, including Meta and Alphabet, have abandoned such initiatives.
Trump criticized DEI measures as discriminatory and hinted that the Department of Justice might investigate their legality. He expressed his stance forcefully on Truth Social saying, "Apple should get rid of DEI rules... DEI was a hoax... DEI is gone!!!"
Apple has not yet commented on Trump's statement. The recent vote at Apple's annual meeting reflected growing shareholder opinions regarding DEI programs that gained traction as companies reacted to societal movements, like the Black Lives Matter campaign, starting in 2020.
Although advocates support DEI initiatives as crucial in combatting inequity and discrimination, opponents, including those against Apple's DEI programs, argue that recent legal alterations may lead to a rise in discrimination lawsuits.
Trump has previously taken action against DEI measures through an executive order and has criticized such efforts for allegedly favoring specific groups over others based on merit in hiring and promotion.
Despite asserting an active oversight effort to mitigate legal risks, Apple has insisted that the proposal to restrict management was inappropriate.
Apple has confirmed its commitment to diversity by supporting programs like a racial justice initiative for historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S. CEO Tim Cook emphasized their dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives at Tuesday's meeting.
Cook acknowledged possible adjustments in response to evolving legal circumstances but assured that Apple's steadfast principles of respecting everyone and promoting dignity will remain unchanged.