'Hate is a cancer': Apple's Tim Cook slams Trump's response to Charlottesville

Apple boss Tim Cook has added his voice to the chorus of condemnation of Donald Trump after the US President's response to the "alt-right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia at the weekend.

In an email to Apple staff, Mr Cook wrote: "Hate is a cancer, and left unchecked it destroys everything in its path. Its scars last generations. History has taught us this time and time again, both in the United States and countries around the world."

The chief executive continued: "I disagree with the president and others who believe that there is a moral equivalence between white supremacists and Nazis, and those who oppose them by standing up for human rights.

"We must not witness or permit such hate and bigotry in our country, and we must be unequivocal about it. This is not about the left or the right, conservative or liberal."

Mr Cook said Apple would donate $1m each to Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League and match two-for-one employees donations to these and other human rights group from now to September 30.

The Apple boss's remarks follow a tumultuous few days for the President, who has been condemned on all sides of the political divide for his response to events in Charlottesville, where an ant-fascist demonstrator, Heather Heyer, 32, was killed and three dozen others were injured.

A wave of CEOs resigned from Mr Trump's business advisory councils in protest before the President declared yesterday he had disbanded the groups.