Donald Trump Suggests Tim Cook as Successor to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

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Following Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's resignation, former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed Tim Cook, Apple’s executive chairman, as the ideal replacement, citing Cook's impressive leadership experience.

The tech industry was stirred by the recent resignation of Jensen Huang as CEO of Nvidia. Adding to the speculation about his successor, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly suggested Tim Cook, Apple’s executive chairman, as the only suitable candidate for the role. Trump made his proposal in a post on Truth Social, describing Cook as "a legend" replacing another legend in Huang.

Tim Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO on September 1, 2026, after a 15-year tenure transforming the company. He was succeeded by John Ternus but retained a prominent role as Apple’s executive chairman. In this capacity, Cook continues to influence the company’s strategic direction, including managing significant international relations such as ties with China.

Trump is not alone in recognizing Cook’s leadership qualifications. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a leadership expert at Yale School of Management, also recommended Cook as a potential Nvidia CEO in a recent Time magazine op-ed. Sonnenfeld highlighted Cook's proven ability to lead following a founder as visionary as Apple’s Steve Jobs, implying a similar fit for Nvidia’s leadership transition.

While these opinions emphasize Cook’s distinguished career and ability to guide major tech firms through leadership changes, no official announcements regarding Huang’s successor have been made yet. Whether Cook will step into Nvidia’s CEO position remains speculative. The suggestion invites broader discussion about leadership continuity in prominent technology companies and the cross-pollination of top executives between industry giants.

The prospect of "Tim Nvidia" has attracted public attention, though it remains an informal and unsolicited proposal for now. Observers await further developments from Nvidia and its board on the company’s next CEO selection.