Apple threatens to withhold Twitter from its App Store, Musk says

On Friday, Elon Musk said he might build an “alternative phone” if Twitter is removed from Google Play and Apple App Store. Just three days later, Musk announced on Twitter that “Apple has threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why.”

Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

Responding to Musk’s tweet saying “97.5% of Apple’s donations are to the Democratic Party. Twitter allowing free speech is against party interests so Apple must play the role of enforcer.”

“Wow, they don’t sound biased at all!” Musk replied.

Wow, they don’t sound biased at all!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

It all started last week after speculations that Apple and Google were planning to remove Twitter from their app stores following reports that Musk’s vision for “Twitter 2.0” and the upcoming changes may violate Apple or Google’s terms of service.

In a post on the social platform, one Twitter user suggested that Musk should just build his own smartphone.

“If Apple & Google boot Twitter from their app stores, @elonmusk should produce his own smartphone. Half the country would happily ditch the biased, snooping iPhone & Android. The man builds rockets to Mars, a silly little smartphone should be easy, right?” Liz Wheeler tweeted.

Responding to her tweet, Musk stated he hope it doesn’t get to that, adding that he would just make his own phone. “I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone,” Musk said.

I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2022

Tensions started brewing last week between Twitter and the two tech giants after Musk complained in a tweet about the fees that Google and Apple charge companies like Twitter to use their app stores. Apple and Google currently charge over 15% to 30% from purchases made inside apps.

“App store fees are obviously too high due to the iOS/Android duopoly,” Musk tweeted. “It is a hidden 30% tax on the Internet.” In a follow-up post, he tagged the Department of Justice’s antitrust division, which is reportedly investigating app store rules.

Meanwhile, the former head of Apple marketing executive who still oversees the App Store, Phil Schiller, apparently deleted his widely-followed Twitter account over the weekend. Before his account was deleted, Schiller had hundreds of thousands of followers.