According to analysts, former President Donald Trump is expected to reverse some antitrust measures taken under President Joe Biden, such as a possible attempt to dismantle Google.
Trump has expressed doubt about dismantling Google, which has raised concerns about the company’s future. “If you do that, are you going to destroy the company?” Trump asked at an October event in Chicago. He suggested that making Google “more fair” might be a better approach.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently running two antitrust cases against Google.One focuses on its search behavior, and the other one deals with advertising technologies. Apple is also the target of an antitrust case by the DOJ. Amazon and Meta Platforms are being sued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the meantime.
The DOJ’s suggested remedies for Google’s hegemony include terminating contracts that make Google the default search engine on gadgets like the iPhone or perhaps dismantling portions of its operations, like the Chrome browser. But the trial for these potential remedies won’t start until April 2025, with a final ruling expected in August. This timeline leaves Trump with a chance to change DOJ’s course, says William Kovacic, a George Washington University law professor and former FTC chair.
Trump may also reverse Biden administration policies that affected mergers and acquisitions. Attorneys say Trump could let companies settle with regulators by adjusting their business, avoiding lengthy litigation. Biden’s strict merger review guidelines may also be scrapped, predicts Jon Dubrow, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery.
The FTC’s ban on most noncompete clauses in employment contracts might also be vulnerable under Trump. If confirmed, a Trump-appointed replacement could reshape the FTC’s leadership and policies.
While Trump is unlikely to reduce antitrust enforcement dramatically, his approach to mergers and acquisitions could differ. Analysis shows the DOJ handled a similar number of merger cases during Trump’s first term as in Biden’s early years.