Former President Donald Trump recently explained his shift in stance regarding the TikTok ban. In his recent CNBC interview, he highlighted the mixed sentiments surrounding the platform. He said, “Frankly, there are a lot of people on TikTok that love it. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it.”
He continued, “There are a lot of users, there’s a lot of good, and there’s a lot of bad with TikTok.” Trump reinforced his concerns about the implications of banning TikTok. Additionally, he cautioned against the potential bolstering of social media giants like Facebook.
Trump stated, “The thing I don’t like is that without TikTok, you’re going to make Facebook bigger. And I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people along with a lot of the media.”
Challenges Extend Beyond TikTok
Trump reiterated his national security and privacy concerns regarding TikTok, extending his scrutiny to American companies. “I do believe that, and we have to very much go into privacy and make sure that we are protecting the American people’s privacy and data rights,” he said.
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He also pointed out that American social media platforms, including Facebook, engage in data-sharing practices with China, which broadens the issue’s scope.
Trump Flags Facebook’s Allegiances and Election Influence
Trump raised doubts about the allegiance of American social media platforms. He asserted that their ties to China pose national security risks. “They are not so American; they deal in China. And if China wants anything from them, they will give it so that’s a national security also,” Trump stated.
Trump voiced specific concerns about Facebook, citing CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s donation of at least $400 million to non-profit organizations. These funds were directed toward upgrading election systems for mail-in voting. Moreover, the funds were used to alter protocols during the 2020 election, fueling his apprehensions.
Facebook’s Impact on Elections
Trump criticized Facebook’s detrimental influence on the country, mainly concerning elections. Trump dismissed allegations of challenging his stance on TikTok due to a meeting with Jeff Yass, and he clarified that their meeting was not about TikTok. Notably, Yass is a billionaire investor with a substantial financial interest in the platform.
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“He never mentioned TikTok,” Trump said. The former president mentioned conversing only with Yass’s wife about school choice, which he supported.
Trump Slams Facebook and TikTok Amidst Renewed Ban Saga
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to voice opposition to the TikTok ban. He stated, “If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I don’t want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!”
Momentum for a TikTok ban gained traction among Republicans. Notably, the House Commerce Committee’s unanimous 50-0 vote to advance the bill mandates TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to divest the company. Over the years, ByteDance ties to the Chinese government have raised significant national security concerns.
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TikTok Users Mobilize Amidst Ban Threat
The recent House Commerce Committee vote sparked a quick response from TikTok. The vote prompted the platform to rally its users to action, urging them to contact Congress in Protest. Thousands of children joined the cause, emotionally pleading with members of Congress to oppose the bill. Some of them even broke into tears during their calls.
However, President Biden surprised TikTok users by endorsing the bill to ban the platform.
Biden’s Support for TikTok Ban
Despite ongoing efforts to engage TikTok users, Biden affirmed his readiness to sign the bill banning the platform. He said, “If they pass it, I’ll sign it. Notably, in January, the Biden campaign Connected with TikTok’s user base by establishing a TikTok account for the president before the 2024 election.
In contrast, Trump and his campaign did not appear on the platform. Trump gained attention during his presidency for his vigorous push to ban TikTok, exemplified by his August 2020 executive order. His order mandated ByteDance to divest the platform within 45 days, citing his emergency powers as president.
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