Trump's Deregulation: A Fist in the Face of Monopolies

President Donald J. Trump just dropped a bombshell that’s got bureaucrats scrambling and entrepreneurs cheering. On April 9, 2025, he signed an Executive Order that takes a sledgehammer to anti-competitive regulations, promising to rip apart the red tape strangling America’s free markets. This isn’t just another policy tweak; it’s a full-on declaration of war against the bloated regulatory state that’s been choking innovation and jacking up prices for everyday Americans. Competition, as Trump knows, isn’t some abstract theory - it’s the lifeblood of a thriving economy, delivering lower costs, faster innovation, and more choices at the checkout line.

The move comes straight out of Trump’s playbook: unshackle the American spirit and let it run wild. Agency heads now have 70 days to comb through their rulebooks, sniff out anything that props up monopolies or blocks new players from entering the game, and report back with a kill list. The Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General are riding shotgun, ensuring this isn’t just talk. It’s a clear signal - Washington’s days of coddling big players while stiff-arming the little guy are numbered.

History backs this up with cold, hard facts. Look at the 1970s, when the Airline Deregulation Act tore down federal barriers on fares and routes. Prices plummeted, options exploded, and millions of Americans who’d never flown before took to the skies. Sure, some carriers stumbled, but the consumer won big. Fast-forward to Peru in 2013 - when they empowered their competition authority to axe local entry barriers, firms in reformed areas saw productivity soar compared to those stuck under the old rules. Canada’s eyeing a 7% GDP boost just by cutting interprovincial trade walls. The evidence screams it: fewer barriers mean more hustle, more jobs, and more cash in your pocket.

Contrast that with the nanny-state crowd who clutch their pearls at deregulation. They’ll point to the 2008 financial crisis or Texas’s 2021 energy woes, whining that less oversight risks chaos. But here’s the rub - those flops came from half-measures and weak enforcement, not the principle itself. Deregulation doesn’t mean no rules; it means smart rules. Trump’s order isn’t a free-for-all - it’s a surgical strike, guided by agency pros and public input, to root out what’s broken and keep what works.

What’s got the D.C. elite really sweating? Trump’s not leaving this to the suits alone - he’s tossing the keys to the American people. The FTC’s now on deck to collect input straight from Main Street, asking regular folks which regulations are crushing their dreams. This isn’t some feel-good gimmick; it’s a masterstroke. Who knows better than a small business owner or a strapped consumer what’s gumming up the works? The Biden crew tried this too, with their webinars and fact sheets, but it was all optics - drowned out by insider lobbyists and agency inertia. Trump’s cutting through that noise, giving real people a megaphone.

That’s the genius here. While policymakers in the last administration patted themselves on the back for ‘equitable outreach,’ studies showed public comments barely moved the needle - drowned by big-money influence. Trump’s flipping the script, betting on the grit and wisdom of everyday Americans to pinpoint the real culprits. It’s not just practical; it’s a middle finger to the entrenched interests who’ve rigged the system for too long.

This isn’t a one-off; it’s the crown jewel of Trump’s deregulatory crusade. From juicing mineral production to slapping reciprocal tariffs on trade cheats, his Executive Orders have consistently put America’s economic horsepower first. The 1980s showed us deregulation can remake industries - think trucking, telecom, airlines - and Trump’s channeling that same energy to keep us ahead of China, the EU, and anyone else eyeing our spot. With antitrust hawks now sniffing out Big Tech and wage-fixers, this order doubles down, ensuring competition isn’t just a buzzword but a fist in the face of monopolies.

Opponents will cry foul, claiming it risks consumer welfare or market stability. They’re missing the forest for the trees. Deregulation’s messy, sure, but it’s the chaos of freedom - the kind that built this country. The 2008 crash wasn’t deregulation’s fault; it was lax oversight and greed run amok. Texas’s grid faltered because of poor planning, not free markets. Trump’s team knows this - they’re not slashing blindly but targeting what strangles growth, backed by data and real-world wins.

So where does this leave us? In 70 days, we’ll see the hit list - a catalog of economic roadblocks about to get bulldozed. Agency heads, the FTC, and the public are all in on this, forging a blueprint for a leaner, meaner economy. It’s not about tearing everything down; it’s about building something better - a market where new ideas don’t die under paperwork, where prices reflect real competition, and where America’s edge stays razor-sharp.

Trump’s not just keeping a campaign promise; he’s lighting a fire under the greatest economic engine the world’s ever seen. The naysayers can clutch their rulebooks and sob about risks, but the rest of us - the workers, the dreamers, the doers - see the truth: less red tape means more green lights. This Executive Order isn’t a gamble; it’s a gauntlet thrown down, daring anyone to bet against American ingenuity. History says they’ll lose.