Google has finally been dealt the blow it long deserved. Last week, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled in Virginia that Google’s digital ad network constitutes an illegal monopoly—a ruling that is already sending shockwaves through Big Tech and putting Silicon Valley on notice. For years, Google has thrived by gobbling up smaller competitors and consolidating control over digital advertising, manipulating markets to fuel its $1.8 trillion empire. Now, justice has caught up.
This ruling marks the second time in less than a year that federal courts have branded Google as an abusive monopolist. Last August, another federal judge found Google’s ubiquitous search engine guilty of illegally leveraging its dominance to crush competition and suppress innovation. Taken together, these rulings draw a clear picture: Google’s dominance hasn’t been earned through fair competition but through predatory practices designed to strangle rivals and limit consumer choice.
The Justice Department first set its sights on Google’s search engine monopoly during President Trump’s first term—a long-overdue action that was finally pursued. When Biden’s administration later targeted Google’s lucrative ad network, many conservatives worried this might amount to mere political grandstanding. But the evidence presented in court was undeniable. Google’s anti-competitive practices have had a devastating effect on online publishers, especially news outlets struggling to survive in today’s digital landscape.
“For over a decade, Google has tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange together through contractual policies and technological integration, which enabled the company to establish and protect its monopoly power,” Judge Brinkema wrote in her scathing 115-page decision. “Google further entrenched its monopoly power by imposing anticompetitive policies on its customers and eliminating desirable product features.”
This ruling is far more than a slap on the wrist—it’s a direct call to action against a digital behemoth whose unchecked power threatens the very foundation of free-market capitalism. Brinkema’s decision specifically highlights the harm done to publishers, including prominent conservative media outlets, who have been forced to depend on Google’s manipulated ad exchange for revenue. The judge rejected Google’s defense that publishers “have many options,” noting instead that Google’s dominance left publishers little choice but to accept the tech giant’s oppressive terms.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi didn’t mince words, calling the decision a “landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square.” She’s right. Google has built its empire on the backs of hardworking Americans and small businesses that rely on fair competition to survive. Its monopoly power doesn’t just hurt economic freedom—it threatens free speech itself, as publishers dependent on Google’s ad revenue often fear retribution if they dare criticize the tech giant.
Google, of course, immediately vowed to appeal. The company claimed in a statement that it disagreed with the court’s findings, arguing its tools provide affordable and effective options for publishers. But conservative Americans who’ve witnessed firsthand Big Tech’s relentless censorship and bias aren’t buying Google’s excuses. For years, we’ve watched as Google demonetized conservative voices and rigged search results against viewpoints it disliked. This ruling confirms what many on the right have long known: Google’s dominance isn’t just economic—it’s ideological. And it must be dismantled.
The Justice Department now has the opportunity to follow through on its proposed remedy, potentially forcing Google to sell off parts of its advertising technology. This would be a welcome step toward restoring a free and fair digital marketplace. It would also send a clear message to other Big Tech giants, from Facebook to Amazon, that the era of unlimited Silicon Valley power is at an end.
Under President Trump’s leadership, America has returned to its foundational principles: strong borders, economic nationalism, and a government that works for the American people—not against them. Breaking Google’s illegal monopoly aligns perfectly with these America First priorities. It strengthens our economy by giving small businesses and publishers a fighting chance, restores fairness in our markets, and puts the interests of everyday Americans above the profits of Big Tech elites.
It’s time to finish what we’ve started and reclaim the digital public square for the American people. Google’s monopolistic reign must end—for the sake of our economy, our democracy, and our liberty.