Apple CEO Tim Cook Addresses Minneapolis Killings in Internal Memo

Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent an internal message to employees after fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving U.S. federal immigration agents. The memo surfaced amid criticism of Cook for attending a White House event on the same day one of the victims was killed. In the message, Cook expressed grief, called for calm, and confirmed that he spoke with President Donald Trump.

According to Bloomberg, Cook circulated the memo internally to Apple employees late in the day. The message broadly referenced “the events in Minneapolis” and avoided naming individuals or agencies, but the timing made its context clear.

Tim Cook’s full memo to Apple employees

Team,

I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.

This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.

I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.

Thank you for all that you do.

Tim

Before the memo

Cook’s message followed public backlash after he attended a private White House screening of the documentary “Melania” just hours after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed in Minneapolis during an encounter with federal immigration agents.

The situation escalated further after reports confirmed that poet Renée Good, also 37, was killed earlier this month by an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. Both incidents triggered protests and renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement.

Ongoing scrutiny of Cook’s political ties

In recent years, Tim Cook has become a regular presence at U.S. government events, maintaining a visible working relationship with President Donald Trump. That relationship has often drawn mixed reactions, especially during moments of national crisis.

The internal memo now places Cook and Apple back at the center of a wider debate about how corporate leaders respond when politics, tragedy, and public expectations collide.