Meta CEO calls EU antitrust penalties a “strategic disadvantage” and urges Trump to defend American tech dominance.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called on President-elect Donald Trump to intervene against the European Union’s antitrust fines targeting American tech companies, describing them as akin to tariffs undermining U.S. strategic interests. Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg argued that the EU’s aggressive penalties, which have totaled over $30 billion in two decades, disproportionately affect the United States’ strongest industries.
Zuckerberg criticized the outgoing Biden administration for failing to counter the EU’s actions, suggesting it emboldened Brussels to levy significant fines against firms like Meta, which was recently hit with a €797 million penalty. “If some other country was screwing with another industry that we cared about, the U.S. government would probably put pressure on them,” Zuckerberg said, expressing optimism that Trump would adopt a more protective stance toward American businesses.
The Meta chief’s comments come as the company makes moves seemingly aligned with the incoming administration’s policy preferences. Meta recently announced plans to end its third-party fact-checking program and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, signaling a pivot to policies likely to resonate with Trump’s base.
Zuckerberg’s comparison of EU fines to tariffs underscores his broader argument that antitrust measures serve as economic barriers designed to curb U.S. tech dominance. “It’s a strategic advantage for the United States that we have a lot of the strongest companies in the world,” he stated, calling on the U.S. government to defend American tech interests.
As Trump prepares to take office, Zuckerberg’s public appeal signals a potential shift in the U.S. approach to international regulatory disputes. Whether the incoming administration takes up the tech industry’s cause remains uncertain, but Meta’s overtures highlight the growing tension between Silicon Valley and the EU’s regulatory apparatus.
