With the slogan “Make America Great Again,” U.S. President Donald Trump, who has returned to power for his second term, has focused on reducing America’s trade deficit by imposing tariffs on countries around the world. Meanwhile, after Europe imposed a $2.9 billion (approximately ₹29,000 crore) fine on tech giant Google, Trump has taken a strong stand.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump wrote,
“Google has been fined $3.5 billion by Europe. This is a discriminatory action against American companies and investments. Europe has repeatedly imposed heavy fines on Google and other U.S. tech companies, which is unfair to the American taxpayers.”
Trump also referred to Apple, stating that the company had previously been fined $17 billion, which he claimed was completely wrong and should be refunded. He warned that if Europe does not stop taking such actions, his administration would take strict measures under Section 301 and challenge these unfair fines. The European Commission has made serious allegations against Google.
The European Commission imposed the fine on Google over allegations of misusing digital advertising technology. It claims that Google prioritises its own services, treats competitors and online publishers unfairly, and exploits its dominance in the market. This entire issue has once again intensified the ongoing dispute between the U.S. and Europe regarding tech companies.