Trump floats Tim Cook as a successor to Nvidia’s Jensen Huang

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that “only one man” could take Huang’s place: “Tim Cook of Apple.” He added: “A Legend replaces a Legend!”

Cook left Apple’s CEO role on September 1, 2026, after 15 years leading the company. John Ternus succeeded him as chief executive, while Cook became Executive Chairman of Apple’s board of directors. In that role, he continues to engage with global policymakers and manage international relationships, including Apple’s ties with China.

Trump is not the only person to put Cook forward as a possible successor. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean for leadership studies at Yale School of Management, proposed Cook as a potential candidate in a Time op-ed published Wednesday. Sonnenfeld, who studies CEO leadership and corporate governance, cited Cook’s “unparalleled track record of succeeding a bigger-than-life founder,” referring to his succession of Apple founder Steve Jobs.

The source leaves unclear whether Trump was endorsing Sonnenfeld’s view or simply floating the idea. It also notes that “Tim Nvidia” lacks the ring of “Tim Apple.”