Donald Trump Calls For Boycott Of Apple Over Encryption Issue

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a boycott of Apple Friday during a campaign rally in South Carolina.

"First of all Apple ought to give the security for that phone, OK. Boycott Apple. First of all, the phone's not even owned by this young thug who killed all the people, it's owned by the government."

Trump's boycott call comes after Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company will resist a federal magistrate's order to hack an iPhone used in connection with the investigation of the San Bernardino, California shootings.

The federal ruling on Tuesday ordered Apple to disable the security feature in San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook's phone that automatically erases all data if an incorrect passcode is entered 10 times.

"Tim Cook is looking to do a big number, probably to show how liberal he is," Trump added. "But Apple should get the security -- you'll find other people."

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton released a statement Wednesday morning commending U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym for the order.

"As the threats from ISIL become more divergent and complex, we cannot give those seeking to harm us additional tools to keep their activity secret," NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said Thursday. "I reiterate my call on Congress to act immediately in passing legislation to provide law enforcement the tools we need to keep America safe.‎"

But Apple is ready to challenge the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.

If Apple disables the feature, the FBI plans to use computers to break Farook's passcode without running the risk of data loss. Agents hope the phone will help them figure out why Farook and his wife picked their target and if they had any help.