Trump picks expert to fight big tech companies
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In a significant move, President-elect Donald Trump has selected Gail Slater to lead the Department of Justice’s antitrust division. With her extensive background in antitrust matters and previous role as JD Vance’s economic adviser, Slater will be tasked with managing crucial monopoly cases against industry giants including Google, Visa, and Apple, maintaining Trump’s aggressive stance toward Big Tech regulation.
During the announcement, Trump stressed the need to protect fair market competition and voiced concerns about Big Tech’s alleged suppression of smaller businesses and civil liberties. Slater brings substantial experience to the role, having served on the White House’s National Economic Council in 2018 and held positions at Fox Corp. and Roku. Her decade-long tenure at the Federal Trade Commission saw her involvement in blocking significant mergers, including the Whole Foods-Wild Oats deal.
Cheers to my good friend Gail Slater on this crucial nomination by President Trump to lead the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.
Gail Slater is a brilliant antitrust attorney and America First populist.
President Trump is making crystal clear he's continuing what he… pic.twitter.com/OzKeDV2bhL
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) December 4, 2024
The appointment has garnered support from various quarters in Washington, where Slater is known for her tough stance on antitrust issues. Former Republican adviser Garrett Ventry endorsed the selection, viewing it as evidence of Trump’s commitment to addressing Big Tech concerns. The Tech Oversight Project also expressed approval, highlighting the bipartisan backing for robust antitrust enforcement.
Gail is a marvelous choice to lead @JusticeATR. She is smart, thoughtful and willing to work across the aisle. I trust that there will be a lot we agree upon. https://t.co/mYbtpXUQQ8
— Gigi Sohn (@gigibsohn) December 4, 2024
In her new role, Slater will oversee several major DOJ initiatives, including efforts to separate Google from its Chrome browser, investigations into Apple’s alleged smartphone market monopoly, and the department’s pioneering algorithmic price-fixing case against RealPage. Additional cases involve challenges to the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger and scrutiny of Visa’s control over debit card payment processing.
Slater’s impressive career trajectory, spanning from Dublin to prominent positions in London and Washington, demonstrates her comprehensive expertise in the field. Both supporters and critics are eagerly anticipating her approach to managing these complex antitrust challenges under Trump’s leadership.
