From the Daily Caller: Assistant Attorney General for antitrust Gail Slater announced on Thursday that she was leaving her post, bringing an end to a turbulent year in the role that saw her gradually fall out of favor with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Slater, who gave no explanation for her departure, was lauded at the start of the administration as a tip of the spear for “MAGA antitrust” and the populist economics of Trump 2.0. Several Trump loyalists and populist MAGA allies expressed disappointment at the announcement. But sources told the Caller that it didn’t take long for her relationship with Bondi, and her deputy, Todd Blanche, to deteriorate.
One source familiar with the situation told the Caller that there were three big reasons for Slater’s ousting: an unauthorized trip to Paris, allegedly lying to Bondi about a controversial merger, and leaks to the press about divisions within the antitrust team at DOJ.
A source told the Daily Caller that Slater was given a decision earlier this week to resign or be fired from the Department of Justice.
According to a Trump administration official, Slater was disobeying requests from Bondi, and went on a pricy trip to Europe despite being told not to. As of result of the unauthorized trip, Bondi reportedly cut off Slater’s DOJ-issued credit cards.
The source claimed they believe Slater “was undermining pending cases” because she wasn’t getting along with Bondi.
Without any explanation, Slater announced on X Wednesday morning, “It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today. It was indeed the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role. Huge thanks to all who supported me this past year, most especially the men and women of @justiceatr.”
It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today. It was indeed the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role. Huge thanks to all who supported me this past year, most especially the men and women of @justiceatr
— Gail Slater (@gailaslater) February 12, 2026
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote, “Gail Slater did an outstanding job & carried out our antitrust laws especially looking into competition issues important to rural America I’m sorry to see her leave the Dept of Justice”
Thank you @ChuckGrassley; grateful to you and @POTUS for the opportunity to serve the country. https://t.co/vutUGYcrQR
— Gail Slater (@gailaslater) February 12, 2026
Some care calling Slater’s exit a “massive loss.”
The head of the DOJ’s antitrust division Gail Slater was just pushed out of the agency.
Slater is a patriot.
She fought off the swamp.
This is a MASSIVE loss. pic.twitter.com/jgzneemwgA
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) February 12, 2026
Others say she was a “long-time corporate lobbyist with her own agenda.”
Raheem:
Stop getting played.
Gail Slater was a long-time corporate lobbyist.
With her own agenda.
She made erratic decisions.
She went out of her way to knife too many Trump admin colleagues.
She leaked, lied, disobeyed, and subverted.
She got fired.
She’s not the victim. https://t.co/RBlfDAByOl
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) February 13, 2026
There’s so much more.
Power went straight to her head.
I’m sorry and embarrassed I recommended her.
After 9 years, I thought I knew her.
Adios.
*
DOJ Antitrust Head Gail Slater Resigns After Tenure Featuring Google‘s Infamous Slap on the Wrist Verdict https://t.co/L9UgVoqr8O— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) February 13, 2026
READ MORE from the Daily Caller.
THREE STRIKES, SHE’S OUT: She Was MAGA’s Antitrust Star — Then Her Relationship With Pam Bondi Imploded https://t.co/40rY8t4nIR
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 12, 2026
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