Comment: Forcing Google to sell Chrome is just a warm-up

GAP IS POSSIBLE WITH TRUMP

Much of that depends on whether the Justice Department’s efforts survive under President Donald Trump. When Bloomberg news editor-in-chief John Micklethwaite recently asked whether Google should be broken up, the then-candidate responded: “Look, Google has a lot of power. They treated me badly…”

– Would you break them?

“I would do something,” Trump responded. “They have become such a force. How they became a force is truly a debate. At the same time it is very dangerous because we want to have great companies. We don’t want these companies in China. Right now China is afraid of Google.”

Trump may be unsure of his position, but a break is by no means ruled out. Not only was the DOJ case brought at the end of Trump’s last term, but new Vice President J.D. Vance has publicly said Google should be broken up.

Elon Musk, now a key player in the Trump administration, has also long been concerned about the company’s consolidation of control in artificial intelligence. He also has a vested interest in the matter, as he is the founder of a start-up artificial intelligence company and the CEO of Tesla, for which the technology is an integral part.

In other words, there is a good chance that the Justice Department’s efforts may succeed, albeit slowly. The court will hold hearings on the proposed severance in April 2025, with US Judge Amit Mehta expected to rule by August. Google will almost certainly appeal, a process that could take years.

However, if history is anything to go by, starting a Chrome scam isn’t just a strategic move. It’s the first step in what could ultimately become the biggest antitrust showdown since AT&T.