Business Groups Urge Stronger Antitrust Policies from Trump
A coalition of major business organizations has reached out to President Trump, advocating for more robust antitrust policies as he seeks to lower prices for everyday Americans.
The decision to send the letter came shortly after Gale Slater, the antitrust chief at the Justice Department, stepped down on Thursday. Her resignation was reportedly precipitated by a disagreement with other officials over the management of a significant antitrust case.
The letter highlighted that “consolidation in the economy and the misuse of market power are driving up the prices of common goods for Americans.” It warned, “When competition falters, prices increase, choices diminish, small businesses struggle to survive, and job losses follow.”
Among the signatories were Y Combinator, known for accelerating startups, the News Media Alliance representing various news outlets, Beeper—a messaging service embroiled in a legal battle with Apple, and DuckDuckGo, a search engine accused of monopolistic practices by Google.
Reducing prices is a critical focus for Trump and his supporters as the midterm elections approach. The business coalition stressed that vigorous competition is “vital not just for America’s strength and innovation, but also for enhancing affordability and living standards for working families.”
The White House has not responded to queries regarding this issue.
Several notable conservative figures signed the letter as well, including Joel Thayer from the Institute for Digital Progress, Aiden Buzzetti from the Bull Moose Project, and Rachel Bovard of the Conservative Partnership Institute.
The document also provided a detailed analysis illustrating how anti-competitive behavior has contributed to rising prices. It pointed out that in the tech sector, “dominant platforms” leverage their market power to impose unfair conditions on sellers and advertisers, subsequently passing those costs to consumers.
Additionally, the letter mentioned that soaring food prices can be attributed to large retailers pushing out smaller competitors and imposing high costs, while monopolistic farming practices diminish independent farmers’ bargaining power over essential goods like seeds and fertilizers.
In the health care sector, consolidation has reportedly “reduced competition and patient choice while increasing premiums, copayments, and drug prices,” according to the letter.
The letter emphasized that “strong antitrust policy does not penalize success”; rather, it ensures markets remain open, allowing companies to compete fairly without any single entity holding enough power to manipulate prices, limit production, or stifle competition uncontested.
It concluded with a request for the administration to bolster its antitrust efforts in 2026, particularly in sectors most affecting the cost and accessibility of essential goods.
Other endorsers included the National Grocers Association and over 20 regional food industry trade associations.
Trump has committed to reinforcing pro-competition policies during his presidency, but some critics contend that pro-MAGA lobbyists wield too much influence over his advisors.
Looking ahead, the Justice Department plans to initiate a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster in March, alleging they have engaged in illegal monopolistic practices resulting in inflated ticket prices for consumers.
Recent reports suggest that Slater has been excluded from settlement discussions on the Live Nation case, and last year saw a settlement regarding Hewlett-Packard’s $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks, despite Slater’s opposition.
As for Slater, sources indicate that her dismissal stemmed directly from the White House, and by Thursday morning, she announced her departure from the agency without elaborating further.
Some sources have downplayed the notion that MAGA lobbyists were responsible for her exit, suggesting instead that Slater may have overstayed her welcome following frequent conflicts with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Justice Department currently has ongoing lawsuits involving Visa and Apple and is appealing a recent ruling perceived as insufficiently stringent regarding Google’s search monopoly.
Rising tensions have been evident, reflecting a divide between populist conservatives advocating for a hard-nosed antitrust approach and traditional Republicans who prefer a more lenient stance to promote business deals.
In the wake of Slater’s departure, Omeed Assefi is set to act as the interim antitrust commissioner, based on insider reports.
