The Trump administration’s current approach to antitrust enforcement reflects a notable continuation of policies initiated during the Biden administration, surprising some observers who expected a regulatory shift under Republican leadership. Several high-profile cases and regulatory actions suggest that key elements of Biden-era progressive antitrust priorities have persisted, albeit under Trump-appointed officials.

Some cases stem from investigations that began under the first Trump administration but were further developed under Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) during the Biden administration. For example, an antitrust lawsuit against Meta accused the company of controlling 85 percent of consumers’ time on personal social networking platforms. However, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg dismissed the case, pointing out that regulators failed to account for emerging competitors such as TikTok and YouTube when alleging a monopoly.

The rhetoric supporting this regulatory approach has also shifted away from traditional free-market principles. Vice President JD Vance called for increased government involvement in the economy, emphasizing the role of public policy in promoting the "dignity of the human person." Similarly, Andrew Ferguson, the current FTC chair under Trump, has argued for limiting individual liberty when it impairs others’ well-being, a rationale echoed by FTC commissioner Mark Meador.

This regulatory stance includes a focus on corporate responsibility for inflation, a theme central to President Joe Biden’s 2021 announcement of 72 antitrust initiatives. Biden had linked inflation and stagnant wages to corporate power rather than broader economic policies or historical government debt levels. Following this logic, the FTC launched investigative efforts targeting grocery chains when food prices climbed and scrutinized the oil and gas sector amid rising fuel costs.

The Trump Justice Department joined these efforts by filing a recent antitrust lawsuit against egg producers, following a significant price increase last year. The producers settled for $3.3 million and committed to donating millions of eggs to nonprofit organizations, though they did not admit wrongdoing. Authorities also encouraged state attorneys general to examine oil companies for allegedly slow price adjustments after a brief ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. The Agriculture Department applied pressure on retailers to reduce beef prices ahead of the July Fourth holiday.

Legal experts note that while uncovering secret price-fixing conspiracies remains crucial—given that price-fixing is an unequivocal violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act—high prices alone do not prove illegal conduct. Market factors such as natural events and supply constraints commonly drive price fluctuations. For instance, egg prices surged last year due to a bird flu outbreak that decimated flocks, but have since fallen substantially. Likewise, beef prices rose amid a prolonged drought and historic low cattle inventories, while recent volatility in gas prices is linked to global oil supply disruptions influenced by geopolitical tensions with Iran.

Critics argue that the Trump administration’s antitrust actions largely mirror the Biden-era framework that attributes natural economic fluctuations and policy challenges to corporate misconduct. This bipartisan alignment marks a significant departure from traditional Republican laissez-faire economic policies.

Both Democratic and Republican officials now appear to hold corporations partly responsible for inflation and market disturbances, despite extensive government regulations. Observers caution that this focus tends to obscure fundamental issues such as mounting public debt, burdensome regulatory complexity, and systemic problems within the education system—factors that analysts say more directly affect economic stability and productivity.

While attacking business interests may resonate politically, some experts question whether it effectively addresses the underlying economic challenges or truly serves the broader public interest.