The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) comes under heavy fire for the way it has handled antitrust cases under the Trump administration. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson recently stated that he would “obey lawful orders” if President Donald Trump asked him to drop an antitrust case, such as the one against Meta. But Ferguson was skeptical that such a request would be made, reaffirming his commitment to enforcing the law.
The FTC action against Meta, which will go to trial on April 14, 2025, alleges that Meta has gained monopoly power by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC seeks to require Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp to spur competition in the social networking market. Despite the political pressures, Ferguson has ensured that the FTC will proceed with its antitrust cases against both Amazon and Meta, emphasizing a commitment to “holding Big Tech’s feet to the fire.”
President Trump’s political control over the FTC has raised concerns about its autonomy. Two Democratic commissioners were removed by Trump in March 2025, leaving the FTC with single-party control. It has raised debate about the rule of law as well as threats of political manipulation of regulatory actions. Trump’s moves have been condemned as a chance for enabling Big Tech companies to become softer on their compliance, which are increasingly criticized for their grip on the marketplace.
Ferguson’s stance in favor of adhering to legal orders has been interpreted as a sign of loyalty to Trump, who has shown a leaning toward exerting control over executive branch agencies. Yet Ferguson asserts that the FTC will strictly follow the law, unlike personal preferences. The existing antitrust cases are being seen as a test of whether the FTC is going to enforce the antitrust laws during the Trump administration.
Tech industry leaders’ political alignment with Trump has also raised eyebrows. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos have moved to build a connection with Trump by contributing to his inauguration fund and meeting him in transition. Those moves have stoked rumors about potential “sweetheart deals” for tech companies being sued over antitrust.
Against this backdrop, the FTC’s antitrust enforcement is bound to continue, maybe with a new focus. Ferguson has begun probes into the manner in which platforms restrict people’s access on the basis of speech content, acting on Republican grievances regarding censorship on social media. It is a shift that may portend a broader reorientation of the FTC’s agenda under Trump.
The future of Trump-era antitrust enforcement is unknown. While Ferguson has promised to keep active cases going, political winds are favorable enough that the FTC may play a more diplomatic game with respect to Big Tech. The lawsuit against Meta someday will be noteworthy as a proving ground for whether the FTC holds firm on enacting antitrust laws in spite of political adversity.
