Apple CEO Tim Cook has addressed the recent killings involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis in an internal memo to employees. Cook expressed empathy for those affected and said he communicated his concerns directly to President Donald Trump.
According to reports, in his memo Cook did not comment on law enforcement policy or take sides on the Minneapolis shootings. Instead, he emphasized Apple’s core values, focusing on corporate social responsibility and the alignment between those values and the company’s broader mission.
“Apple believes in restraint, respect, and human dignity — and I want you to know the company still stands by those values,” he wrote. “This situation is upsetting, and I know many of you are hurting,” he added. “Your empathy matters, and I want you to feel supported as employees during a tense national moment.”
Tim Cook, who initially joined Apple in 1998 as a senior vice president for worldwide operations, worked alongside its founder Steve Jobs for a long time until Cook was promoted to lead operations and became chief executive in 2009.
NEW: @tim_cook responds to ICE killing in Minneapolis in internal memo to employees, saying it’s “time for deescalation” and that he had a “good conversation” with Trump about the situation this week where he shared his views. Story on @TheTerminal. pic.twitter.com/DYtsU01h7N
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) January 28, 2026
While Steve’s health was failing, Cook looked after most of the operations in the company and the latter only approved major decisions. Tim Cook was finally named the new CEO of Apple on August 24, 2011, after his years of incredible contribution to the company.
Alas, a few months after the 65- year old took over as the CEO, Jobs passed away on October 11, 2025. Meanwhile, Tim Cook’s message comes in the wake of the political climate in the United States, which has intensified after police shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis resident, on January 7, 2025.
Renee Good, who worked as a preschool teacher, was driving in Minneapolis with her wife, Becca, when she reportedly refused to exit their vehicle after officers’ request and attempted to leave. ICE agent Jonathon Ross was identified as the officer who fired the fatal shot.
Despite continuing protests, the Department of Homeland Security said the agent fired in self-defense after Good allegedly tried to injure Ross. Ross was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Recent reports by the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that it will not investigate Ross, and further legal action will not be taken against him. Lawsuits were filed against ICE after protests erupted in Minneapolis, following the shooting that dominated national news.
According to the BBC, a second shooting also occurred on January 24, adding to community distress. Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was fatally shot by ICE agents over the weekend, sparking nationwide outrage.
Hundreds of protesters marched in the US city of Minneapolis on Sunday, demanding justice for the fatal ICE shooting that killed US citizen Alex Pretti.
It was the second shooting death involving federal officers in Minneapolis this month. pic.twitter.com/Bx0iAFcoy0
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 26, 2026
Many have called for the removal of President Trump and his administration. Federal officials defended the agent, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stating that Pretti was shot after allegedly brandishing a gun.
However, local authorities and Pretti’s family dismissed the claim, saying his firearm was legally owned, had been removed before the shooting, and that video footage shows he was holding a phone, not a firearm.
The BBC also reported that even during their internal verification, no firearm was found on the victim’s hand. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting”, Alex Pretti’s family said in an official statement.
Kristi Noem took the same radical right approach when Renee Good was shot, she kept defending ICE agents, trying to argue with news reporters from mainstream channels to allegedly prove her point.
Tyrese Haliburton speaks out following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by ICE agents 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YDasS9a04l
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 25, 2026
Demonstrators have urged ICE to leave the city. Business leaders from major Minnesota companies, along with Governor Tim Walz, have urged de-escalation and cooperation between local and federal officials.
In addition, Democrats in Congress have threatened to block funding for the DHS unless they hold accountability and make changes to the system.
