In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has expressed his opposition to a TikTok ban being considered in Congress. Trump argues that banning the popular Chinese-owned social media platform would only benefit Facebook, which he refers to as “a true Enemy of the People!” In a Truth Social post, Trump claims that getting rid of TikTok would cause Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg to double their business. This statement comes after Zuckerberg banned Trump from Facebook and Instagram following the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol.
Trump’s animosity towards Zuckerberg is evident in his reference to him as “Zuckerschmuck.” In a statement released months after being banned, Trump declared that there would be no more dinners with Zuckerberg and his wife at the White House if he were to return as president, stating that it would be strictly business. However, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, reinstated Trump last year.
Meanwhile, Congress is actively discussing legislation that aims to crack down on TikTok. Introduced by Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, the bill would require ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the platform within 165 days or face a ban from major app stores. This legislation has gained support from House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Biden, who has stated that he would sign it into law if it reaches his desk.
The concerns surrounding TikTok are primarily centered on data security and the potential access that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could have to user data. In 2022, Biden signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, which banned the app from federal government devices and systems. ByteDance denies any intention of sharing user data with the CCP and dismisses these concerns as misinformation.
Interestingly, Trump had previously supported banning TikTok in the US and even signed an executive order in 2020 that gave ByteDance 45 days to sell the platform. However, his order was blocked in court, and upon taking office, Biden revoked the ban. Instead, the Department of Commerce was directed to assess whether TikTok poses a national security threat.
Despite Trump’s change in stance, there are efforts to halt the legislation seeking to ban TikTok. Billionaire hedge fund manager and GOP megadonor Jeff Yass has reportedly been making personal calls to Republican members of the House to oppose the ban. Yass’s fund holds a significant stake in ByteDance, further highlighting the financial implications of such a ban.
As the debate surrounding the future of TikTok in the US continues, it remains to be seen whether Congress will pass the proposed legislation or if other factors will come into play. With Trump’s unexpected support for TikTok and opposition to a ban, the situation has become even more complex. As both sides present their arguments, the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, leaving millions of American users uncertain about the app’s future.
