“Conservative” Antitrust: Something Possibly Kind of New Under the Sun, Maybe

In this article for ProMarket, author Chris Sagers shares his thoughts on the shifting dynamics of “conservative antitrust” and its evolving political context. He begins by reflecting on how, during the Trump and Biden administrations alike, antitrust policy often became more about performance and symbolism than genuine reform. Early expectations that conservative leadership might use antitrust enforcement against cultural or political adversaries proved troubling, as they mirrored similar overpromises made under the previous administration. For Sagers, this mutual political theater represents a broader democratic malaise—one in which performative gestures increasingly replace substantive policy discussion.

Sagers notes that recent internal conflicts within the Trump Justice Department revealed just how politicized enforcement has become, exposing tensions rarely seen by the public. Yet, amid this dysfunction, he observes a surprising rhetorical shift among some conservative leaders. A handful of Republican figures have begun voicing support for more active antitrust enforcement—positions that would have been unthinkable among conservatives for decades. This marks a potential departure from the long-dominant Chicago School orthodoxy, signaling that the boundaries of antitrust debate may finally be expanding.

The author argues, however, that despite these bold statements, most practical enforcement will likely remain within the limits of the long-standing bipartisan “consensus” model—moderate, cautious, and resistant to radical change. He expects future administrations to continue engaging in politically motivated gestures, though few will result in significant lawsuits or policy outcomes. Even so, he detects a subtle but meaningful shift in how antitrust ideas are discussed: the range of credible disagreement is broadening, and some of the more rigid assumptions of the past seem to be losing their hold.

Sagers then turns to the irony of conservative populists calling for antitrust action against perceived censorship or ideological bias—an approach that starkly contrasts with the movement’s half-century opposition to government interference in markets. He compares this conservative fervor with similar excesses from the left, noting how both sides have made sweeping promises that rarely translate into meaningful enforcement. Ultimately, these theatrics, whether populist or progressive, tend to obscure the genuine legal and economic questions at stake, reflecting an era where antitrust policy has become more about spectacle than substance…

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