Sonnenfeld 7-26

Measured antitrust enforcement protects American capitalism and competition Harris’ antitrust record as California Attorney General suggests a more measured approach to antitrust enforcement compared to the current environment and the evolving MAGA economic principles promised by Trump-Vance. For example, when campaigning to be California attorney general in 2010, Harris warned against “shortsighted” antitrust enforcement, emphasizing government “can't stand in the way of business growth and development.” In contrast, business leaders were horrified when President Trump weaponized antitrust as a cudgel to obtain more favorable news coverage. They have similarly resented what is viewed as antitrust overreach by certain Biden officials, led by Lina Khan at the FTC and Jonathan Kanter at the DOJ. While J.D. Vance is one of Khan’s loudest defenders—recently declaring, “I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden Administration that I think is doing a pretty good job.” In contrast, many in the business community are expecting new antitrust leadership under President Harris, who has reportedly expressed skepticism toward Khan’s expansive view of antitrust powers, echoing concerns from progressive allies such as Congressman Ro Khanna.