Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized tech executives for supporting President-elect Donald Trump. Sweeney accused companies like Apple, Google and Meta of putting their own corporate interests first by promoting anti-competitive policies that he said hurt consumers and smaller competitors.
Sweeney expressed his concern on X, stating, “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.” He warned the public against attempts to denigrate competition law, calling it a “sneaky monopoly”.
Sweeney’s frustration stems from Epic Games’ ongoing battles with Apple and Google for control of the mobile software market. Epic aims to distribute games like Fortnite on iPhone and Android devices without using official app stores or paying significant fees to Apple and Google.
As Trump prepares to take office, major tech companies have shown public support for his administration. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google each reportedly donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly relaxed Facebook’s content moderation policy in what is seen as a move aimed at wooing Trump’s political supporters. Amazon also made a $1 million donation. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has praised Trump and expressed a willingness to support his administration, although Nvidia has not announced any financial contributions.
Sweeney’s concerns echo concerns that the Trump administration may take a softer stance on antitrust. While FTC Chairwoman Lina Hahn has emphasized the importance of strong antitrust enforcement, there is skepticism about the administration’s commitment. Khan recently expressed hope that companies like Amazon and Meta will not receive preferential treatment in future antitrust cases.
Sweeney has vowed to continue his fight against what he describes as the “completely corrupted world view” of Apple and Google. While his company has had some success in Europe, progress in the United States remains limited.
Observers note that many of these donations and public gestures of support are likely to be strategic, designed to influence policies that benefit large corporations. By aligning with Trump, these companies may seek to reduce regulatory pressure and avoid strict antitrust scrutiny.
Sweeney’s remarks underscore the growing divide between smaller companies like Epic Games and the tech giants that dominate the industry. The battle for competition in the technology sector continues, and the stakes will rise under the new administration.
