Sundar Pichai and Trump's Subtle Clash: The Power Game Behind Google's Antitrust Case

"Did you have a good time yesterday...?" When Trump asked Google CEO this while staring at him during a White House dinner, I couldn't help but imagine the awkward atmosphere of that moment. This seemingly casual exchange actually concealed deeper implications—Google had just narrowly escaped a legal disaster that could have led to the breakup of the company, with its market value soaring by $230 billion overnight.

Pichai's response is quite thought-provoking: "I am glad that things have come to an end... I appreciate your government's constructive dialogue, and we have ultimately reached some sort of resolution." This statement sounds like gratitude towards the Trump administration, but in reality, this antitrust case was first initiated by the Department of Justice in 2020.

Judge Mehta's ruling is like a blessing from heaven for Google. Although it found that Google engaged in illegal behavior in the search market, it rejected the most severe penalties. Google can continue to pay Apple billions of dollars to maintain its position as the default search engine on iPhones, a deal that is extremely beneficial for both parties.

Of course, Google is not completely lossless. They must share some search index data and user interaction information, but they can charge under "ordinary commercial terms." In plain terms, Google still holds control.

Interestingly, Pichai deftly shifted the topic to artificial intelligence: "The era of artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative moments of our lifetime, and under your leadership, the AI action plan is a great start." This praise is clearly aimed at Trump's plan "Winning the AI Competition," released in July, which includes a ban on what is described as "woke AI."

Trump has not been idle either, attempting to blame the antitrust lawsuit on the Biden administration, even though in fact this lawsuit was filed during his own first term.

Behind this dinner, the game between Google and the Trump administration is still ongoing. Don't forget, Trump sued YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, four years ago, accusing it of illegally censoring content after the Capitol riot on January 6.

This scene illustrates the subtle relationship between tech giants and political power—beneath the surface politeness and respect lies a careful calculation and game of mutual interests.