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Trump Nominates Business Executive and GOP Donor to FTC

By  |  January 15, 2026

President Trump on Tuesday nominated David MacNeil, a Republican donor and the founder of an automotive accessories company, to fill an open seat on the Federal Trade Commission, according to the New York Times. The nomination adds another Trump ally to the agency, which plays a central role in enforcing consumer protection rules and overseeing competition policy.

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    MacNeil is the chief executive of WeatherTech, an Illinois-based company best known for its vehicle floor mats, as well as a range of household and pet products. He has been a prominent supporter of Mr. Trump and has contributed significant sums to Republican candidates, per New York Times reporting on his political activity and business background.

    According to the New York Times, MacNeil has frequently emphasized the importance of making products in the United States, a stance that aligns with some of the FTC’s enforcement priorities. Beyond reviewing mergers and business practices that could harm competition, the agency also targets companies that mislead consumers about whether their products are made domestically.

    MacNeil has spoken publicly about those issues in the past. “Being deceptive and saying it’s made in America, when it’s not, is not fair,” he told CBS News in July. “And so people should just tell the truth.”

    Read more: President Trump Backs Bill Aimed at Cutting Credit Card Swipe Fees for Merchants

    The nomination comes as Mr. Trump continues to reshape the FTC, an agency that has traditionally operated with a degree of independence from the White House. The commission is typically made up of five members, with no more than three from the president’s party, according to the New York Times.

    Last year, Mr. Trump dismissed the two Democratic commissioners, a decision that broke with long-standing norms intended to protect commissioners from removal over policy disputes. One of those firings is now under review by the Supreme Court, which is weighing whether the president had the authority to remove Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from the commission, per New York Times coverage of the case.

    The White House announced MacNeil’s nomination on Tuesday, and it was later acknowledged in a congratulatory social media post by Andrew Ferguson, the FTC’s current chair. If the Senate confirms him, MacNeil would assume the seat previously held by Melissa Holyoak, a Republican commissioner who departed the agency in November, according to the New York Times.

    Source: New York Times