Two major fines imposed by the European Union against Apple and Meta may actually benefit American tech giants — the industry is hoping the move will catch Donald Trump’s attention and prompt him to address Europe’s antitrust measures.
The EU fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), adopted in 2022. Both companies are also required to make significant changes to their business models, prompting sharp reactions from U.S. lobbyists.
Industry representatives were quick to condemn the penalties, calling them not fines, but essentially “multi-billion-dollar tariffs” — a clear attempt to frame them as an economic attack on the U.S. and appeal to Trump, who is known for his tough stance on trade.
The White House responded swiftly: a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council labeled the EU’s actions “economic extortion” and promised that the United States would not tolerate it. According to the spokesperson, such regulations threaten free trade and civil society.
Former Meta public policy director Katie Harbath openly stated that Meta’s reaction was a signal to Trump — an attempt to bring the DMA into the agenda of a potential new trade war.
Although Big Tech’s relationship with Trump has been far from perfect, companies hope that the EU’s recent actions will push the White House to respond more assertively. Meta has already hinted at the possibility of appealing to the Trump administration for support.
Meanwhile, the EU appears to be preparing further steps: more severe sanctions may be coming for other companies, such as X, which has so far avoided penalties. That could be the final push needed to trigger a U.S. response.
