Trump nominee to lead Antitrust Division could steer future Google and Apple lawsuits

President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Adam Candeub, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to seek confirmation. Candeub, a longtime expert in telecommunications law and former general counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, would inherit the department’s landmark antitrust actions against Google’s search monopoly and Apple’s control of its App Store.

He has positioned himself as a leading conservative critic of Big Tech, arguing that platforms wield excessive influence over competition, speech, and public discourse, and has called for changes to Section 230. During the Trump administration, he worked at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on efforts to narrow Section 230 protections. His candidacy enjoys support from former Attorney General Bill Barr and a coalition of more than a dozen current and former Justice Department officials, who cite his experience at the FCC, the Office of the Associate Attorney General, and Michigan State University. Senator Dick Durbin publicly noted a recent meeting with Candeub to discuss merger oversight, Section 230 reform, and child-online safety measures.