Former President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he intends to legally pursue Google if re-elected, accusing the tech giant of manipulating search results to favor his political rival, Kamala Harris.

Trump claimed that Google has been showing negative stories about him while promoting positive coverage of Harris, calling the practice illegal, and his accusations and pledge to seek accountability come amid broader concerns about Big Tech's influence on elections, as the Daily Mail reports.

The former president made his statement via his Truth Social platform, where he expressed frustration over what he believes is an intentional effort to interfere with the upcoming election.

Trump did not provide evidence to support his claims but insisted that Google was engaging in “ILLEGAL ACTIVITY” by allegedly filtering search results to his disadvantage.

Google Denies Accusations of Election Interference

In response to Trump’s allegations, Google has firmly denied manipulating its search results to benefit any political candidate. The company explained that both Trump’s and Harris’s campaign websites consistently rank highly for common and relevant search queries. They attributed the reported discrepancies to an anomaly that occurred during a single search incident.

The issue first arose when Elon Musk, a known Trump supporter, shared an image on his X platform, which showed Google’s autocomplete feature failing to display Trump’s name initially. Musk suggested that this was evidence of a deliberate search ban on Trump. Google quickly addressed the concern, stating that the issue had been resolved and that Trump’s name now appears as expected in autocomplete results.

Trump Promises Action if Justice Department Fails to Respond

Trump's threats against Google follow his recent claims that Big Tech companies are attempting to interfere with elections in favor of Democrats. He has been vocal about his distrust of these corporations, frequently accusing them of suppressing conservative viewpoints and engaging in what he calls “rampant Cheating and Skullduggery.”

In his statement, Trump said that if the Justice Department does not take immediate action, he would personally request Google’s prosecution at “maximum levels” when he wins the 2024 election. Trump emphasized that such actions would be subject to legal limitations but reiterated his commitment to holding Big Tech accountable for any election-related misconduct.

Musk Adds Fuel to Fire with Claims of Bias

The involvement of Musk in this situation has further intensified the debate over the role of tech companies in shaping public discourse. By sharing the image of the incomplete search results, Musk fueled suspicions that Google was deliberately hiding Trump’s name from users. This act prompted more allegations from Trump supporters, despite Google’s clarification that it was an isolated incident.

Musk’s public stance aligns with Trump's, as both men have been outspoken critics of what they see as censorship by major technology platforms.

Legal Authority on Prosecution Raises Questions

While Trump has vowed to seek Google’s prosecution if re-elected, legal experts point out that the decision to pursue charges against a corporation typically falls under the jurisdiction of career prosecutors within the Justice Department. Any attempt by a president to influence or direct such prosecutions could raise significant legal and ethical concerns.

Trump’s promise to take action against Google adds to a growing list of individuals and organizations he has pledged to prosecute, should he return to office. Earlier this month, Trump made similar comments, threatening to prosecute those involved in what he described as election-related “unscrupulous behavior.” His promises have fueled worries among Democrats and other political rivals about what they view as apparent calls for revenge and retribution.

Trump’s History of Legal Battles Casts Doubt

Trump himself is currently facing several legal challenges, including multiple indictments. If re-elected, he would possess the authority to shut down the ongoing investigations, including those led by special counsel Jack Smith. Such a move would likely ignite further controversy and criticism from his political opponents, who have expressed concerns about Trump’s ability to use his power for personal vendettas.

The New York Times recently reported on what it said were Trump's past efforts to push for federal prosecutions of political rivals like former FBI Director James Comey and former Secretary of State John Kerry. These efforts, while largely unsuccessful, highlight what critics say is Trump's ongoing willingness to leverage the legal system against those he perceives as adversaries.

Conclusion

In his latest critique of Big Tech, Donald Trump has accused Google of election interference by allegedly manipulating search results to favor Kamala Harris.

While he has vowed to prosecute the company if re-elected, Google has denied the allegations, attributing reported discrepancies to technical anomalies.

As Trump continues to discuss the implications of bias and censorship, concerns among some about his calls for retribution and the future of political prosecutions grow.

The situation remains fluid, with questions about the extent of presidential influence over legal decisions likely to shape future debates.