As the trial of Meta’s antitrust case is about to begin, the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, seems to be intensively lobbying with the Trump administration. The trial will commence on April 14 by the Federal Trade Commission. 

Meta is alleged to have bought WhatsApp and Instagram to stifle rising competition and sustain its dominance. Meta, formerly Facebook, bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. The company was first sued in 2020 under the Trump administration. 

Since Trump took office, Zuckerberg has been reported to have visited the White House thrice. Though there is no confirmed news of the proposal made by Meta. Meta’s spokesman Andy Stone also declined to comment on the company’s CEO visits to the Oval Office. He said  

“Mark’s continuing the meetings he’s been holding with the administration on American technology leadership,” 

There is also no official statement from the White House and the FTC about these visits. However, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson made an aggressive statement on the anticompetitive behavior by the Big Five. He said in an interview 

“We’re gearing up for trial. We’ve got some of the FTC’s best lawyers on it, and we’re getting ready to go. This trial has been five years in the making.”

Trump Intervening in The FTC   

Since Trump took over his presidential office, he started asserting renewed authority over the agency, which is conventionally kept independent from the White House. His issued executive orders gave him more direct influence over the FTC. Last month, Trump fired two Democratic commissioners at the agency. The orders are sued by the commissioners. 

Meta-UFC Partnership 

On April 2, Meta Platforms signed a multi-year partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship. The company is owned by Dana White, a close friend of Donald Trump. This partnership will not only help Meta boost its publicity but may also help Zuckerberg in lobbying against FTC antitrust cases. 

Meta Fighting Antitrust Law in EU

In the last week of March, Mark Zuckerberg was reported to be fined by the European Union for breaching antitrust law. The Big Five company was reported to be fined up to $1 billion. The antitrust watchdog alleged that Meta complied with the Digital Market Act, passed in 2023. The company was also expected to be hit by a ‘cease-and-desist’ notice, making it a must for Meta to change its policies and comply with the Act.