Donald Trump is expected to adjust some antitrust policies pursued under President Joe Biden, with a potential softening in the approach toward breaking up major tech companies like Google, industry experts say.
While Trump is likely to continue antitrust cases against Big Tech, which started during his first term, his recent comments indicate skepticism about breaking up Google. "If you do that, are you going to destroy the company? What you can do without breaking it up is make sure it’s more fair," he remarked at an event in Chicago in October.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently prosecuting two antitrust cases against Google related to search and ad tech, along with a separate case against Apple. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has suits ongoing against Meta and Amazon.
Possible remedies in the DOJ's case against Google include requiring the company to divest some business lines, like the Chrome browser, and stopping agreements that set Google as the default search engine on devices such as Apple’s iPhone. However, decisions on these remedies won’t be made until after a trial set for April 2025, with a final ruling likely in August. This timeline gives Trump the ability to influence DOJ’s approach if his administration chooses to change course, said William Kovacic, a professor of law at George Washington University.
Trump may also ease restrictions that have frustrated mergers and acquisitions under the Biden administration, according to legal experts. The FTC and DOJ are expected to revisit merger review guidelines, which some say have been highly restrictive. Additionally, the FTC’s broad ban on noncompete clauses in employment contracts could be at risk, especially if it faces further legal challenges from groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
