Donald Trump’s recent re-election has tech insiders buzzing, and it’s not just about policy. With Elon Musk now firmly in the Trump orbit and VP Vance linked to Peter Thiel’s influence circle, the administration appears poised to favor Big Tech. Key cases against companies like Google could end in financial settlements instead of breakups, and with Musk and Thiel-aligned figures shaping policy, Silicon Valley could find a powerful ally in the White House. For affiliate marketers, this means a market still dominated by Google’s ad ecosystem, TikTok’s data clout, and higher barriers to diversify.

Google’s antitrust challenges—poised under Biden for a potential breakup—now seem likely to conclude with hefty settlements rather than structural changes, meaning Google will maintain its grip on search and ad revenue. For affiliate marketers, this could translate to fewer alternative ad platforms and higher costs, especially with no looming regulation to curb Google’s monopolistic leverage. Meanwhile, Trump’s personal connection to Elon Musk raises concerns that policies could benefit Musk’s companies, particularly in areas like data collection and online advertising, with little restriction on rent-seeking activities.

Additionally, ByteDance’s TikTok might remain untouched by forced divestment. Trump’s former demands for a U.S. sale of TikTok could fade given his meeting with Republican donor Jeff Yass, a major ByteDance stakeholder. For marketers, this means TikTok will likely continue operating under its current ownership, allowing continued ad revenue growth but leaving ByteDance’s influence on the platform—and its algorithms—unchallenged.

In a landscape with entrenched monopolies, affiliate marketers may find fewer paths to diversify and new challenges with platform fees and policies favoring larger advertisers. The ripple effect of Trump’s Silicon Valley-aligned administration could force marketers to navigate an ecosystem that remains concentrated, costly, and less accommodating to smaller players. This new administration, leaning into tech-favorable policies, could shape the affiliate marketing industry in ways that demand adaptive strategies, cost control, and renewed emphasis on long-term platform relationships.