Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Sorry Trump, Apple won’t be donating money or tech to this year’s GOP convention

Politicians can’t win everyone over, and Donald Trump is no exception. Despite his purported mutually adoring relationship with American corporations, a number of key corporate sponsors have decided not to sponsor the 2016 Republican convention in Cleveland, where the real estate mogul will be officially introduced as the party’s nominee for president. A Bloomberg report notes that Wells Fargo & Co., United Parcel Service Inc., Motorola Solutions Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ford Motor Co., and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., all of whom sponsored the 2012 convention, will not be partaking at the same level this year. And on the tech side, Apple is sitting this one out, as is HP, Inc.

The Silicon Valley behemoth’s decision breaks with that of its compatriots, as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft have all signaled the provision of “some support” to the GOP next month. But Apple will not be donating money or technology to the event, which signals the latest sign of a growing rift between Trump (and perhaps the GOP at large) and America’s tech industry. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that Facebook was accused of curating liberal stories in its Trending News section, and in the spring a number of civil rights groups set up a Trump protest at Google’s headquarters.

Recommended Videos

That said, a few companies that decided not to support the convention have explicitly cited Trump as their rationale, so maybe it’s just unfortunate timing.

Of course, Trump has always insisted that he has more than enough personal funds to pave his road to the White House, so perhaps the reluctance of many corporate sponsors to participate this year won’t be such a big blow to the reality television star. But it’s not just businesses who are suggesting that they may not make an appearance at the convention — indeed, some top Republicans have also indicated that they might be absent from the event.

But sponsors or no sponsors, Republican attendees or not attendees, this year’s convention is sure to be an event to remember.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The EU is preparing an App Store change that Apple won’t like
App Store displayed on an iPhone 14 Pro against a pink background

The EU is narrowing its focus on Apple's App Store, a new report says. Coming from the Financial Times, which cites three sources familiar with the matter, the body now plans to focus on Apple's ban against linking to subscriptions off the App Store. The EU confirmed this report in an update to its statement of objections shared on Tuesday morning.

Where this policy might have been merely annoying at first, the color of it changed once Apple began offering competitors to rival services it had banned from advertising in the store.

Read more
This could be the iPhone 15 Pro, and you won’t believe the camera
iPhone 15 Pro CAD render

It appears that 9to5Mac got an exclusive first look at the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro, and it looks like some significant changes are coming.

These renders are based on a CAD model provided by a reliable case manufacturer and produced by 3D artist Ian Zelbo. We can expect the iPhone 15 lineup, including the iPhone 15 Pro, to arrive sometime later this year.

Read more
I won’t upgrade my Apple Watch Series 5 until Apple adds this one feature
Apple Watch Series 5 on wrist with a pink gradient Modular watch face

Since it debuted in 2015, the Apple Watch went from one of those products we didn’t know we needed to something that some of us literally cannot live without. It’s not just a smartwatch with notifications and other functionality for our iPhone, but a complete health, activity, and wellness tracker too.

I remember when the first Apple Watch came out, and I scoffed at it — I had a Fitbit at the time, so why would I need an Apple Watch? Now, it’s something I can’t be without, even for a day (got to keep that Move streak going!)

Read more