U.S. President Donald Trump criticized European Union regulators for targeting Apple, Alphabet subsidiary Google, and Meta Platforms, labeling their actions against American firms as “a form of taxation.” The EU is known worldwide for its stringent, some say over-, regulation of tech giants, frequently taking aim at companies like Apple and Google on antitrust issues, and with social media giants like X and Meta over so-called “moderation” policies.
Lynn Doan and Samuel Stolton for Bloomberg News:
“These are American companies whether you like it or not,” Trump said in comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “They shouldn’t be doing that. That’s, as far as I’m concerned, a form of taxation. We have some very big complaints with the EU.”
Trump specifically referenced a court case that Apple lost last year over a €13 billion ($14.4 billion) Irish tax bill. The EU’s Court of Justice in Luxembourg backed a landmark 2016 decision that Ireland broke state-aid law by giving Apple an unfair advantage, requiring Ireland to claw back the money that had been sitting in an escrow account pending the final ruling.
Trump’s comments mark the beginning of a long-anticipated clash between Trump and the EU over the bloc’s big tech crackdown. Apple, Google, Meta and the X platform owned by Trump confidant Elon Musk may all be facing billions in fines — or even mandatory divestment orders — from dozens of separate ongoing EU investigations.
MacDailyNews Note: In October, President Trump said that Apple CEO Tim Cook called him to complain about the EU’s $17 billion in fines against the company.
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He’s so mean, or he’s the only with the fortitude and vision to give the EU what they need;
a healthy spanking?
Wow! Here comes the USA implosion!
Hard rain a gonna fall…
The most Patriotic president ever for USA. America first 🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️ god bless president Trump. ❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸😀👍🙏
It is demonstrated that the excess of patriotism only causes more destruction for everyone.
US is finished. Do you think the US does not need other countries for its products? How to make America great if you depend on China?
💩💩👎🖕💩💩the orange cretin 🔥🔥🖕🖕🖕💩💩💩💩💩🖕🖕🖕🔥🔥🔥
Wow…what an intellectual response of substance, complete with captivating pictures. Maybe part of Tim’s–world-changing–Emoji Library crew?
The EU has policies which benefit consumers and put monopolists in check. For example, the interchange fee for credit cards in Europe is .3 percent (three tenths of 1 percent) . . . Whereas, in the US, interchange fees average 3 percent (ten times higher than Europe). Anyone with a small business knows how these fees affect your small business, and how it results in higher prices for consumers . . . Why doesn’t the US lower it’s interchange fee? – Because Big Banks “own” US politicians . . . so I am all for “regulation” where it is appropriate and benefits consumers.
Jay, “there are no solutions–only trade-offs,” says the brilliant T Sowell. The EU has a vastly greater number of goofy trade offs and bring up one trade-off to make a point is weak (tho the question is good).
America is seen as the entrepreneur capital of the world for a reason…fewer of EU-like controlling & centralized know-it-alls is a huge reason.
Finding oneself on the scale of risk and safety has a lot to do with the above. EU nannies are throttlers/inhibitors for the “ppl’s safety.”
Trump agenda focuses on WORLD PEACE, and liberals are PISSED OFF.
LMAO!
Gonna be a great 4 years for the WORLD, including AAPL.
MAGA FTW!