Meta will go on trial Monday in one of the most consequential antitrust cases in recent memory. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is accusing Mark Zuckerberg’s company of establishing a “social networking monopoly” through years of “anticompetitive conduct.”
If the FTC prevails, the outcome could force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, fundamentally reshaping the company’s empire and sending shockwaves through the tech industry.
Zuckerberg’s Ties to Trump in Spotlight
While the legal arguments take center stage, political overtones loom large. Questions have swirled about whether President Donald Trump, now serving his second term, will attempt to interfere with the proceedings.
Zuckerberg, for his part, has cultivated a notably friendly relationship with Trump. “We now have an opportunity to have a productive partnership with the United States government,” Zuckerberg told Meta employees in January. “We’re going to take that.”
The Meta CEO was seen at the White House on April 2, the same day The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that he was lobbying Trump to help settle the FTC lawsuit.
Political Interference Concerns Rise
Traditionally, the FTC operates independently from the White House. But Trump’s second term has been marked by repeated disruptions to institutional norms, including actions that critics see as politically motivated.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote on X, “Remember how Mark Zuckerberg started cozying up to Trump as Meta donated $1 million to his inauguration? Well now Zuckerberg is trying to cash in — reportedly lobbying Trump to settle the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Meta. This is why you always follow the money.”
Case Originated During Trump’s First Term
The current case has roots dating back to Trump’s first term. In December 2020, FTC commissioners appointed by him — along with nearly every state attorney general — filed a lawsuit over Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Although the case was dismissed six months later, a revised and stronger complaint was filed under the Biden administration. Judge James Boasberg allowed it to proceed and is now presiding over the trial.
Judge Boasberg in the Crosshairs
Judge Boasberg, who will rule on the case without a jury, has previously been criticized by Trump, who labeled him “a Radical Left Lunatic” and called for his impeachment. This, despite Boasberg’s reputation as a nonpartisan and respected legal figure.
Adding to the controversy, Trump recently fired two Democratic FTC commissioners, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya — a move in direct conflict with a 1935 Supreme Court ruling. The pair are now suing Trump to remain on the commission.
“Our laws need to be enforced without fear or favor,” Slaughter told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. She warned, “The president has been very clear about directing law enforcement to target his enemies and favor his allies.”
A Complicated Relationship
Despite public speculation, Trump’s personal opinion of Zuckerberg remains ambiguous. In a book released last year, Trump accused Zuckerberg of trying to sabotage his 2020 campaign, saying, “if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election.”
More recently, however, their interactions appear cordial. Following the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, Zuckerberg spoke warmly of Trump. The two met at Mar-a-Lago after the election. “We had a really nice dinner,” Trump told NBC. “He asked to have dinner. I had dinner with him. People like me now, you know?”
Platform Shifts and Political Calculations
In January, Meta made sweeping platform changes aligned with Trump’s criticisms of censorship, prompting what some dubbed a “MAGA makeover” of Facebook and other services. Zuckerberg also appeared alongside fellow tech executives at Trump’s inauguration — an image the president frequently recalls.
Still, Trump has yet to publicly declare Zuckerberg as an ally.
FTC Chair Signals Aggressive Approach
Trump’s pick to lead the FTC, Andrew Ferguson, has indicated the agency is ready for trial. “The commission’s lawyers are ‘raring to go’ against Meta,” he said.
However, when asked by The Verge if he would follow an order from Trump to drop the case, Ferguson said, “The president’s head of the executive branch, and I think it’s important for me to obey lawful orders. I think that the president recognizes that we’ve got to enforce the laws, so I’d be very surprised if anything like that ever happened.”
Meta’s Defense: Competition Is Fierce
Meta has argued that it faces stiff competition from other social platforms and should not be punished for innovation. “Regulators should be supporting American innovation, rather than seeking to break up a great American company and further advantaging China on critical issues like AI,” a company spokesperson said.
At trial, the company is expected to argue that its services are far from monopolies. “Every 17-year-old in the world knows” that Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp “compete with Chinese-owned TikTok, YouTube, X, iMessage and many others,” Meta stated.
High Stakes for Tech and Politics
The outcome of this trial could reverberate far beyond Meta’s corporate structure. It may set precedent for future tech regulation and test the resilience of U.S. institutions in the face of political pressure — all while playing out under the watchful eye of a deeply divided nation.
