Exclusive: Trump antitrust chief Gail Slater plans a comeback

Slater brought a tough enforcement mindset to the early months of Trump’s second term. Former Trump antitrust enforcer Gail Slater has held discussions about returning to the private practice of antitrust law, people familiar with the matter tell us, advising companies trying to get mergers past an unpredictable administration. The author of America First Antitrust and former Senate aide to JD Vance, Slater brought a tough enforcement mindset to the early months of Trump’s second term, but was marginalized as the administration took a pro-corporate turn and lost internal fights over mergers involving HPE and Live Nation, where the role of outside lobbyists drew criticism. Slater has been interviewing with at least one Washington, DC law firm about joining as a partner, these people said. Slater declined to comment.