A multitude of business organizations have urged President Trump to intensify the antitrust efforts he proposed during his 2024 campaign. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a tough stance on companies like Google and Ticketmaster, rather than yielding to pressures for a more lenient approach.
The letter expressed appreciation for Trump’s appointment of strong antitrust figures such as Justice Department antitrust chief Gale Slater, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, and Commissioner Mark Maedor. The group encouraged the advancement of various antitrust cases currently being handled by the FTC and DOJ.
They stated, “We recommend building on existing foundations and resisting the pull to revert to a more hands-off federal antitrust enforcement.” It was highlighted that the suggestions were only available through the letter.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Tensions have reportedly been brewing within Trump’s inner circle, with divisions between those advocating for significant actions against companies like Google and Ticketmaster and those favoring a friendlier corporate environment.
This discord became apparent in July when the Justice Department decided to allow Hewlett Packard’s $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks to proceed, despite significant opposition. Speculation arose regarding lobbyists influencing White House connections to abort the move.
Following this settlement, two of Slater’s senior aides were abruptly dismissed, raising concerns within the business and legal sectors. Alford, one of those let go, delivered a scathing critique, claiming that corporate lobbyists and DOJ officials were facilitating these outcomes.
A source familiar with the situation remarked, “There’s no doubt the Republican coalition is divided on whether to revert to antitrust policies reminiscent of the Bush or Obama administrations, versus focusing on structural power issues.”
Last month, during a dinner attended by major tech CEOs, including Google’s Sundar Pichai, the latter expressed gratitude to Trump just days after Google evaded antitrust scrutiny. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, was also in attendance.
Groups signing the letter include notable tech, agriculture, and small business organizations, such as the well-known startup accelerator Y-combinator, as well as other associations representing news outlets and various businesses.
Among the proponents are prominent conservative figures, like Rachel Bobbard from the Conservative Policy Institute.
The letter encouraged Trump to uphold the ambitious vision he articulated for antitrust reform during his administration.
Attorney General Pam Bondy is anticipated to face inquiries about handling antitrust issues when she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the Department of Justice’s annual oversight hearing.
Several significant antitrust cases remain active. Slater’s DOJ antitrust division is pursuing lawsuits against major entities, including Google, Apple, Ticketmaster, and Visa. Additionally, Ferguson’s FTC is taking action against Amazon for its alleged monopolization in online retail, alongside ongoing lawsuits against Ticketmaster and a major alcohol distributor for illegal pricing practices.
