Apple shareholders rejected a proposal aimed at urging the company to align with President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate corporate diversity programs. The proposal, put forward by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, called for Apple to follow the example of several high-profile companies that have scaled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have come under scrutiny by the Trump administration.

After a brief presentation of the proposal, Apple announced that shareholders had voted against it, though the final vote count was not immediately released. Preliminary results will be disclosed in a regulatory filing later in the day.

This vote follows a similar proposal presented to Costco’s shareholders a month earlier, which was also overwhelmingly rejected. Despite vocal opposition, a similar result was anticipated at Apple’s annual meeting.

Apple has consistently supported its DEI programs, which it believes are vital to its success and business strategy. The National Center for Public Policy Research’s proposal criticized the diversity programs, arguing that they could lead to lawsuits for alleged discrimination, citing recent court rulings. The group claimed that as many as 50,000 Apple employees might sue the company, though it did not provide specific details on how it arrived at that number.

The proposal also argued that DEI programs pose legal, reputational, and financial risks to companies, potentially harming shareholders. This concern was heightened by a recent lawsuit filed by Florida’s Attorney General against Target, alleging that the retailer’s scaled-back DEI program had harmed its sales and reputation.

In response, Apple defended its diversity initiatives, emphasizing that they are a crucial part of the company’s culture and success, which has contributed to its $3.7 trillion market value. Apple stated that its ethical and compliant business practices are just as important as its product development.

According to Apple’s 2022 diversity report, nearly 75% of its global workforce was made up of white and Asian employees, with about two-thirds of its employees being men. This mirrors trends seen across the tech industry, where efforts to diversify, especially in high-paying engineering roles, have faced challenges.