In a post on Platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Sweeney accused tech executives of changing their political stance for personal gain. “After years of pretending to be Democrats, Big Tech leaders are now pretending to be Republicans in hopes of currying favor with the new administration,” Sweeney wrote. He warned that these companies were mounting campaigns to discredit competition laws while exploiting consumers and stifling competitors.
Per Mezha Media, tech giants such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Meta have made significant contributions to Trump’s inaugural fund, with both Google and Apple donating $1 million each. Apple CEO Tim Cook also reportedly made a personal donation. Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has drawn attention for relaxing Facebook’s content moderation policy, which some observers see as an attempt to appease the Trump administration.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang also came into the spotlight when he publicly congratulated Trump on his election victory. Mezha Media notes that Huang expressed his willingness to support the new administration, although NVIDIA has not yet announced any financial contributions to the inauguration.
Related: Epic Games board resignations linked to DOJ antitrust probe
Sweeney’s criticism coincides with his long-standing fight against Big Tech, especially Apple and Google. Epic Games is fighting a legal battle with both companies over their app store policies, which require developers to use their payment systems and pay hefty fees. According to Mezha Media, Epic’s lawsuits were prompted by the removal of Fortnite from both the Apple App Store and Google Play after the game introduced direct payment options to bypass the platform’s fees. Sweeney has made it clear that he intends to continue to fight what he calls a “completely false worldview” being promoted by Apple and Google.
His latest remarks come as many industry experts express concern about possible shifts in antitrust policies under the Trump administration. While legal analysts at Skadden suggested that strict antitrust laws will not disappear entirely, there is a general expectation that the new administration will be softer on the tech giants compared to the Biden administration.
US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Hahn, who has led antitrust investigations against companies such as Amazon and Meta, this week expressed her concerns. According to Mazha Media, Khan said she hoped the companies would not receive plea deals in future lawsuits. Still, donations and public gestures of support from tech firms for the Trump administration have raised concerns that regulatory scrutiny may be loosening.
Trump himself has acknowledged the developing relationship between his administration and the tech industry. In December, he noted: “In the first term, everyone fought with me. In this term, everyone wants to be my friend.” Critics like Sweeney see the shift as troubling evidence that Big Tech may be prioritizing political expediency over honest market competition.
Source: Mezha Media
