Climate activists spray-painted the windows of Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store on Sunday, arresting at least one person as they accused the tech giant of environmental hypocrisy. The protest by Extinction Rebellion NYC targeted Apple and other major technology companies for what demonstrators called a betrayal of climate commitments after supporting President Trump's administration.
The action comes amid growing tensions between environmental groups and Silicon Valley over corporate climate leadership, as activists argue that tech executives' attendance at Trump's 2025 inauguration undermines their previous environmental pledges.
Protesters gathered both inside and outside the Manhattan store on July 6, with some activists unfurling a banner inside while chanting "Dump Trump, Apple!" before police ejected them12. Outside, demonstrators spray-painted messages including "Boycott," "Tim + Trump = Toxic," and "Dump Trump, Apple!" on the store's glass facade23.
According to amNY, at least one man was arrested during the demonstration2. Video footage captured by Anadolu showed police detaining protesters outside the store and workers later cleaning graffiti from the windows3.
The activists specifically targeted Apple CEO Tim Cook, referencing his relationship with the Trump administration. "In 2023, Tim Cook (CEO of Apple) called combating climate change one of the most urgent priorities of our time. Fast forward to 2025, and he's donating to Trump, the man leading the charge to roll back all climate progress," said Miles Grant, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, according to amNY2.
Extinction Rebellion NYC accused major technology companies of abandoning climate commitments after their CEOs attended Trump's inauguration. The group noted that companies like Apple, Google, and Meta were part of the "America Is All In" coalition defending climate action during Trump's first term but "backed away" from reaffirming Paris Agreement commitments in December 20241.
"Every policy, every business decision, every vote must confront the reality that our planet's future is on the line. Big Tech promised leadership, but when the heat was on, they sat silent—front and center at Trump's inauguration, funding a regime that's gutting climate protections," said Devin Lilly, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, according to Benzinga2.
Despite the criticism, Apple has reported environmental progress, announcing in April that it reduced global greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels12. The company aims for carbon neutrality across its entire business by 2030, with plans to cut emissions by 75 percent while offsetting the remainder through carbon credits2.
Apple's 2025 Environmental Progress Report showed the company achieved 99 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets and 99 percent recycled cobalt in Apple-designed batteries2. The company's suppliers avoided 21.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 through renewable energy procurement2.
