U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan on Friday welcomed that companies are weighing antitrust considerations early in their dealmaking process.

Lina Khan, the powerful chair of the Federal Trade Commission, knows her tough-on-antitrust stance displeases some but says it's the right thing to do, and enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress.

Antitrust regulation isn't just about protecting consumers, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan said Thursday afternoon at the Fast Company Innovation Festival. It's also about giving small businesses a fighting chance.

With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump seeking the presidency, questions have arisen as to whether Khan would be compatible with either administration. It is unclear how either presidential nominee plans to address antitrust and consumer protection matters.