Donald Trump appeared to call Apple CEO Tim Cook “Tim Apple” at an advisory meeting at the White House.
The president made the mistake while sitting next to Mr Cook, who was speaking about teaching children programming in school.
Responding to Mr Cook, whose name appeared on a card in front of him, Mr Trump said: “We have so many companies coming in. People like Tim, you’re expanding all over and doing things that I really wanted you to right from the beginning.
“I used to say, ‘Tim, you’ve got to start doing it over here,’ and you really have. I mean, you’ve really put a big investment in our country. We appreciate it very much, Tim Apple.”
Mr Cook nods along as the president talks.
It is not the first time Mr Trump has referred to a CEO by the name of their company.
Last year, he called Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed Martin, “Marillyn Lockheed”.
The president has also used nicknames to attack his opponents, using “Jeff Bezo” to refer to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, which has regularly held Mr Trump and his administration to account.
Mr Trump followed his gaffe with Mr Cook by launching into a rant about crime, the US-border wall and human trafficking.
