WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — US President-elect Donald Trump hosted Apple CEO Tim Cook for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The meeting comes as a growing number of tech executives, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, have sought to strengthen ties with the president-elect following turbulent relations during Trump’s first term.

The dinner follows previous conversations between Trump and Cook regarding Apple's tax disputes with the European Union.

In October, Trump mentioned a phone call with Cook in which they discussed the company's legal battles, including the EU's demand for Apple to repay 13 billion euros ($14.34 billion) in back taxes to Ireland.

The case, which the European Commission initiated in 2016, centered on favorable tax deals provided by Ireland to attract multinational companies.

Cook’s visit to Mar-a-Lago comes as Trump continues to court key players in the tech industry. OpenAI’s Altman recently announced a $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining Amazon and Meta, which each pledged $1 million.

Trump’s first term was marked by tensions with several tech giants. He criticized Amazon for its tax practices and clashed with The Washington Post, owned by Bezos. However, Bezos has since expressed optimism about Trump’s second term, even endorsing the president-elect's plans to cut regulations.

Zuckerberg has also appeared to adopt a more conciliatory approach. Weeks after meeting privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Meta confirmed its donation to Trump’s inaugural fund. Earlier this year, Zuckerberg praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt, signaling a shift in tone compared to previous years. — Agencies