Trump's presidency showcases a tension between strong antitrust policy and corporate favor. Friction within the Justice Department's antitrust division raises questions about staff stability and direction. Gail Slater leads lawsuits against major corporations but faces criticism despite support from some administration officials. The Republican Party's internal dichotomy involves corporate interests pushing for mergers versus populist perspectives opposing large corporations. The potential merger of the FTC and DOJ antitrust functions adds complexity to Trump's decision-making process regarding antitrust enforcement, reflecting broader tensions in his administration.
The Republican Party has two forces within it: the money people, corporations who want to be allowed to merge anytime, and the populists who are more against large corporations.
Internal friction with the Justice Department team that fights monopolies has led to private conversations in the Trump administration about whether to push out some staff in the antitrust division or to work to smooth out the issues.
While Making Antitrust Great Again isn't an impossible road to travel, the terrain is looking pretty rough, particularly because of Trump's affinity for deregulation.
Gail Slater, who leads the antitrust division, still has support from some top officials in the administration, but has faced criticism from colleagues and business leaders.
#antitrust-policy #trump-administration #corporate-regulation #justice-department #political-tensions
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