Trump Condemns EU Fines Against Major Tech Firms, Calls it 'Taxation'
Trump's Stance on EU Fines
President Trump criticized the European Union (EU) for imposing hefty fines on major tech companies, calling this practice a ‘form of taxation’ against American firms. During his virtual appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he stated, 'They won $15 or $16 billion from Apple. They won billions from Google.' Trump also mentioned concerns over potential fines for Facebook.
Details on EU Actions
Trump's remarks follow a ruling where the EU's top court mandated Apple to pay €13 billion ($14 billion) in back taxes to Ireland while upholding a €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) fine against Google. Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, received a fine of nearly €800 million (about $840 million) for antitrust violations.
Personal Connections with Tech Leaders
Tech executives including Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, and Mark Zuckerberg have developed close ties with Trump since his election, often visiting him at Mar-a-Lago and donating to his inaugural fund. Trump emphasized the significance of these American companies during his presidency, stating, 'Whether you like them or not, they're American companies.'
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.