Trump Doesn't Get Legal Precedent, Rails Apple For Not Rolling Over On FBI iPhone Unlock Request

It seems as though everyone has an opinion on Apple’s decision not to comply with the FBI’s request to unlock the iPhone 5c used by terrorists in December’s San Bernardino mass shooting. The noise surrounding the topic became louder when U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple to offer “reasonable technical assistance” to the FBI in unlocking device. The noise became deafening when Apple CEO Tim Cook fired back this morning, charging that the U.S. Government was overreaching.

Never one to miss an opportunity to make his opinion known for all to hear, Donald Trump has spoken up on Apple’s decision to put up a blockade against the U.S. Government. In an interview this morning for Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Trump lashed out at Apple, exclaiming, “To think that Apple won't allow us to get into her cellphone? Who do they think they are? No, we have to open it.”

Donald Trump [Image Source: Gage Skidmore/Flickr]

Trump called it a matter of common sense, adding that he agrees completely with the courts. The presidential candidate went on to add, “This is one case and this is a case that certainly we should be able to get into the phone," Trump added. "And we should find out what happened, why it happened, and maybe there's other people involved. And we have to do that."

Obviously, Trump doesn’t buy Cook’s argument that opening up just one smartphone would lead to decreased security for all iPhone users. After all, if you leave a key under the front doormat for the FBI, who’s to stop other unscrupulous parties from finding that key and using its for malicious purposes?

That is the crux of Cook’s argument, which Trump doesn’t seem to understand or is simply willfully ignoring. Cook explained his reasoning in an open letter to customers, stating:

The government suggests this tool could only be used once, on one phone. But that’s simply not true. Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices. In the physical world, it would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks — from restaurants and banks to stores and homes. No reasonable person would find that acceptable.

If anyone was wondering, Trump is firmly in the Android camp, eschewing Apple’s iPhone for a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Trump also took Apple to task over building its iPhones in China, and said that he would make the company “build their damn computers and things” in America.