Apple (AAPL.O) shareholders voted to maintain the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, rejecting a proposal by a conservative group to dismantle the program. The proposal, titled “Request to Cease DEI Efforts,” was defeated with 8.84 billion votes against and 210.45 million votes in favor.
The vote comes amid a broader conservative backlash against DEI initiatives, with major companies like Meta (META.O) and Alphabet (GOOGL.O) scaling back similar programs. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized DEI efforts as discriminatory and hinted at potential legal action against them.
Apple defended its DEI strategy, emphasizing its commitment to a diverse workforce without imposing hiring quotas. The company highlighted initiatives such as supporting historically Black colleges in the U.S., teaching coding skills to Indigenous populations in Mexico, and partnering with Aboriginal-led nonprofits in Australia.
At the annual meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook reaffirmed the company’s commitment to inclusivity, stating, “Our North Star of dignity and respect for everyone will never waver.” However, he acknowledged that evolving legal frameworks might require adjustments.
In other votes, shareholders rejected a proposal to assess the risks of Apple’s AI initiatives, though it received more support than any other shareholder-driven effort. Apple also announced plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, a move that drew praise from Trump following reports of his meeting with Cook.
Additionally, Cook confirmed that Apple will be the largest customer of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s Arizona facility, a project Trump helped facilitate during his first term.
