Apple CEO Tim Cook at an event at Apple Park in Cupertino, Calif., on March 8, 2022. Brooks Kraft/Apple Inc./Reuters

Apple shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to end the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at their annual meeting on Feb. 25.

More than 97 percent of the votes cast were against the proposal asking Apple to “cease DEI efforts,” according to a regulatory filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The proposal, drafted by conservative think tank National Center for Public Policy Research, urged Apple to follow the lead of several high-profile companies that have scaled back on DEI policies as the Trump administration ramps up enforcement of federal anti-discrimination laws in line with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

It specifically pointed to two key rulings, SFFA v. Harvard and Muldrow v. City of St. Louis. The former declared that race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions are unconstitutional, and the latter effectively lowered the bar for employees to bring discrimination claims against their employers.

“It’s clear that DEI poses litigation, reputational, and financial risks to companies, and, therefore, financial risks to their shareholders, and, therefore, further risks to companies for not abiding by their fiduciary duties,” the proposal read.

Apple’s board of directors urged shareholders to vote against the measure, dismissing it as an unnecessary and inappropriate attempt to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own business operations and strategies.

“Our board and management maintain active oversight of legal and regulatory risks and compliance for our global business,” the board told shareholders, adding that it strives to foster “a culture of belonging where everyone can do the best work.”

President Donald Trump, whose administration has signaled it may pursue civil and criminal investigations of DEI practices in private companies that receive federal dollars, criticized the vote.

“Apple should get rid of DEI rules, not just make adjustments to them,” Trump wrote on Feb. 26 in all caps in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. “DEI was a hoax that has been very bad for our country. DEI is gone!!!”

The president’s comments appeared to be a direct response to remarks made by Apple CEO Tim Cook. At the Feb. 25 shareholder meeting, Cook acknowledged that Apple may need to make some adjustments to its diversity program but reaffirmed the company’s broader commitment to the cause.

“As the legal landscape around these issues evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply, but our North Star of dignity and respect for everyone and our work to that end will never waver,” Cook said.

Related StoriesThe vote comes as Cook tries to maintain a cordial relationship with Trump that six years ago helped Apple narrowly avoid tariffs on iPhones made in China. After the two met last week, Apple announced on Feb. 24 that it will invest $500 billion in the United States and create 20,000 new jobs over the next five years—a commitment welcomed by the president.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.