Donald Trump's aides are trying to cover up an awkward slip of the tongue in which the US President bungled the name of Apple chief executive Tim Cook while thanking him for his work.

Key points: During a meeting, Donald Trump said "Tim Apple" when referring to Mr Cook

During a meeting, Donald Trump said "Tim Apple" when referring to Mr Cook A transcript of the meeting has been published by the White House, which reads "Tim — Apple"

A transcript of the meeting has been published by the White House, which reads "Tim — Apple" Mr Cook has replaced his last name with the Apple logo on his Twitter profile

A day after Mr Trump mistakenly referred to Mr Cook at a White House meeting as "Tim Apple" — an understandable misnaming, perhaps, coming from the owner of the Trump Organisation — Mr Cook quietly altered his Twitter profile, replacing his last name with the Apple logo.

The White House, meanwhile, appears to be engaged in some damage control.

In the official transcript of the meeting, the words Tim and Apple are separated by a dash, as if Mr Trump had paused, possibly to thank both the executive and the company.

"I used to say, 'Tim, you 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," the official transcript states.

It is hard to hear much of a break between the words when said by Mr Trump, and Mr Cook made the most of the opportunity to poke some sly fun at the President, who has often clashed with the tech industry.

The Apple boss must have heard something different to what White House stenographers heard. ( Twitter )

Mr Cook did not publicly acknowledge the change, but it did not take long for Apple fans to notice and spread the word.

Non-Apple fans, though, may not get the joke.

Mr Cook's Apple-logo icon is only visible on iPhones and Mac computers.

On Windows, it displays as a blank square. On Android, it renders variously as a crossed out or blank grey box. 'Tim Square' was probably not the connotation the Apple boss was going for.

AP