Ken Griffin, billionaire and CEO of hedge fund giant Citadel, launched a sharp attack on the Trump administration. In a live CNBC interview in Miami, he said deals between the White House and corporate giants like Apple are “anti-American” and create a dangerous precedent where the government picks winners and losers.

“This is not the American story,” Griffin stressed. “If the government starts favoring the big and well-connected, in the end, we all lose.”

Apple in the Spotlight

Griffin said it’s unacceptable that Apple escaped a planned 100% tariff on semiconductors in exchange for pledging an additional $100 billion investment into U.S. suppliers—on top of an already promised $500 billion.

Apple CEO Tim Cook framed the investments as part of a broader partnership with the White House and even gifted Trump a custom plaque with a golden base. Griffin dismissed it as blatant favoritism: “Are we really going to keep changing the rules just because someone knows the right politician?”

From Innovation to Lobbying

Griffin warned that such practices are reshaping the DNA of American business. Instead of driving innovation, companies are now incentivized to lobby for political favors.

“Innovation will no longer be the key skill,” Griffin said. “The real skill will be knowing how to get the right favors out of Washington.”

He pointed to Apple as a prime example—having already won exemptions during Trump’s first term amid trade talks with China, and now again reaping the benefits of political dealmaking.

“That’s Where the Crocodiles Live” – A Warning to Corporations

Griffin cautioned that today’s political favors could easily backfire once a new administration takes over.

“Companies are playing a dangerous game. The tables will eventually turn, and this will come back to bite them,” he warned. “The government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. That’s where the crocodiles live.”

He also argued tariffs function as a “nationwide sales tax,” disproportionately hurting lower-income households that spend a greater share of their income on consumer goods.

Apple Still Shines on Wall Street

Despite Griffin’s harsh criticism, Apple’s stock continues to rise. This week, it became the last of the big-cap tech giants to turn positive for the year. Since January, its shares are up just over 1%, and in the past three months, Apple has gained more than 25%.

After Griffin’s comments, Apple’s stock slipped slightly during Thursday’s session but still trades well above the market average.

#Apple , #TRUMP , #Tariffs , #USPolitics , #economy

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