In a surprising turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to “save” the embattled Chinese video-sharing app TikTok, despite opposition from within his own party. Trump, known for his bold statements, took to his Truth Social platform to declare in all caps: “Save TikTok.”
The clock seemed to have tick-tocked out of time for TikTok as the platform went offline, only to later credit the incoming president for indicating a willingness to work on a solution. Trump’s discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping further underscored the gravity of the TikTok issue.
TikTok’s parent company ByteDance faced a looming deadline to divest its U.S. business or face a ban, a measure that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. Despite this, Trump hinted at a potential 90-day extension for TikTok, emphasizing the need for careful consideration given the complexity of the situation.
However, prominent Republican China hawks in Congress, including Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and Senator Pete Ricketts, dismissed the possibility of an extension, emphasizing the need for ByteDance to sever ties with Communist China in order for TikTok to potentially return to the U.S. market.
With over 170 million users in the U.S., TikTok has long been a subject of national security concerns, with fears of data privacy breaches and potential propaganda use. Trump’s previous executive actions against TikTok faced legal challenges during his first term, but his recent change of heart has drawn speculation, with reports of influential figures pushing for the app’s defense.
As the debate rages on, TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s upcoming inauguration, showcasing the high stakes involved. Trump’s strategic use of TikTok during his 2024 campaign and his belief in its importance for free market competition add another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
The battle over TikTok’s future continues to unfold, with key players jockeying for position in a high-stakes game of geopolitics and tech dominance. Only time will tell how the saga of TikTok’s fate will ultimately play out in the ever-evolving landscape of global technology and politics.
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