Epic Games CEO criticises Meta, Google, Apple for pretending to be Republicans, supporting Trump

Tim Sweeney, the outspoken CEO of Epic Games, has taken a swipe at some of the world’s biggest tech companies, accusing them of playing politics to protect their own interests. In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), Sweeney criticised Apple, Google, Meta, and others for pandering to President-elect Donald Trump, calling it a self-serving move that sidelines smaller businesses and consumers.

Sweeney accused Big Tech leaders of pretending to be Democrats, but somehow, they find themselves now pretending to be Republicans, just to stay on the good books of the new administration. He didn’t hold back, labelling the effort to discredit competition law as a “scummy monopoly campaign.”

Epic’s ongoing clash with tech titans

Sweeney’s frustrations stem from his company’s long-running legal battles with Apple and Google over how mobile apps are distributed. Epic Games has been fighting to bypass the app stores’ hefty fees and restrictions, aiming to deliver games like Fortnite directly to users. These battles, which have grabbed headlines globally, reflect the growing tension between Big Tech and smaller innovators striving for a level playing field.

Big tech’s strategic support for Trump

As Trump gets ready to move into the Oval Office, major tech players are making moves to get on his good side. Apple and Google have reportedly donated $1 million each to Trump’s inauguration, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has allegedly dialled back Facebook’s content moderation to appease Trump’s supporters. Amazon has joined the party with a similar donation, while Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang has publicly praised Trump’s leadership, although no financial contributions have been noted from the chipmaker.

This alignment with Trump’s administration, Sweeney suggests, could undermine efforts to enforce fair competition. Critics share his concerns, fearing that Trump’s policies might ease the pressure on monopolistic practices. Although FTC Chair Lina Khan remains a staunch advocate for antitrust enforcement, there’s scepticism over how much support her agenda will receive under the new administration.

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The bigger picture: Small vs Big Tech

Sweeney’s blunt criticism highlights a widening gap in the tech world. While giants like Apple and Google continue to dominate, smaller players like Epic Games are pushing back against what they see as unfair practices. Observers believe the recent donations and policy shifts by Big Tech are calculated moves to soften regulatory scrutiny and maintain their dominance.

Sweeney, however, remains determined to challenge what he calls Apple and Google’s “totally broken vision for the world.” While his fight has seen some success in Europe, progress in the United States has been slower. As the Trump administration takes charge, the battle lines in the tech industry are becoming clearer, setting the stage for a showdown over competition and fairness.