Trump Wants Apple’s Tim Cook to Run Nvidia
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At 10:29 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, President Trump posted on Truth Social that with Jensen Huang gone, only one man could take his place at NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction). That man was Tim Cook of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and the post ended with “A Legend replaces a Legend!”
Earlier that morning, Nvidia said Huang had resigned as president, CEO, and director, effective immediately. CFO Colette Kress became interim CEO and kept the finance job.
Nvidia closed at $166.19, down 4.34%, for a market value of about $4.01 trillion, after hitting an intraday low of $148.80. It traded at $167.82 at 7:59 p.m. ET.
Apple slid 0.14% to $354.88, leaving it worth about $5.16 trillion. The president is backing a candidate for a job only Nvidia’s board can fill, with its first earnings report without Huang days away.
Trump’s Endorsement Carries No Vote in the Boardroom
Nvidia’s board is running a search that will consider internal and external candidates. Harvey C. Jones, the board’s first-ever chair, said directors have full confidence in Kress and the leadership team.
Nothing disclosed shows Cook wants the job. Neither Apple nor Cook commented, and Trump did not say whether he had spoken with Cook or whether the board had considered him.
Trump reportedly called Huang on Tuesday, Nov. 10, pressing him to fight for his job, then called the resignation sad in a Nov. 12 interview. A president weighing in on a private CEO search creates a difficult position for the board, because any final pick could look compliant or defiant.
Cook’s Apple Role Explains the White House Interest
Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO on Sept. 1, 2026, after 15 years, and John Ternus took over. Cook is now executive chairman, handling relationships with policymakers and foreign governments, including China.
That skill set fits Nvidia, whose third-quarter outlook excludes any China data center compute revenue. An executive fluent in Washington and Beijing would appeal to an administration that has made Nvidia’s China sales a policy issue.
Apple would lose its main diplomatic channel during a holiday quarter built on the iPhone Duo and the new Siri AI. Its flat close suggests investors see that as remote.
Wall Street Splits on Cook’s Fit
Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives & Co. sees Cook as the top candidate, able to replace Huang. Yale’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld floated Cook in an op-ed on Nov. 11.
Saxo’s Charu Chanana said Cook’s smooth takeover record and supply chain experience could reassure investors. Because Nvidia’s edge rests on chip innovation, though, he would need strong technical leaders, and she doubted he wanted another demanding CEO job.
Ten Cap founder Jun Bei Liu wondered whether he would leave Apple. Prediction markets favored insiders on Nov. 12: 35% for Ian Buck, who runs Nvidia’s hyperscale and high-performance computing business, and 29% for Kress.
Nvidia’s Nov. 17 Report Now Carries the Story
Nvidia reports after the close on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Kress holds a company meeting the following day, on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
The outlook called for revenue of $108.0 billion, plus or minus 2%, up from $96.221 billion in the second quarter. Keep an eye on guidance, demand commentary from big cloud customers, and any search timeline.
What Investors Should Research Before Nvidia’s Report
The stock has fallen 27.28% in a month, yet the board expects operations, customer commitments, and the product roadmap to continue without interruption.
Analysts remain supportive, with 59 buy ratings, 2 holds and 1 sell. The board alone decides on the takeover, and Cook’s interest is unconfirmed.
Apple is the steadier name after a 31% gain in 2026, while Nvidia shares have fallen lower.
The outlook would come into question if third-quarter revenue misses the $108.0 billion outlook or the stock closes below its $148.80 low after the report.
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Omor Ibne Ehsan is a writer at 24/7 Wall St. He is a self-taught investor with a focus on growth, cyclical, and dividend equities that have strong fundamentals, value, and long-term potential. He also has an interest in high-risk, high-reward investments such as penny stocks.
