Trump Labels TikTok as National Security Threat but Warns Against Empowering Facebook
Former US President Donald Trump has voiced concerns over the security implications of Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, branding it a potential threat to national security. However, Trump cautioned against outright banning TikTok, arguing that such action would only serve to strengthen rival platform Facebook, which he dubbed as “an enemy of the people.”
In an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Trump acknowledged the privacy and data rights concerns associated with TikTok but highlighted similar issues with Facebook and other companies. He described the decision to ban TikTok as a difficult one, noting the app’s popularity among users, particularly young people.
Trump emphasized his belief that banning TikTok could inadvertently benefit Facebook, which he criticized for its impact on the country, especially during elections. While Trump claimed he could have taken action against TikTok during his presidency, he opted to leave the decision to Congress.
The discussion comes amid legislative efforts to restrict TikTok’s operations in the US, with proposed bills aiming to limit its accessibility on major app stores unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests within a specified timeframe. President Joe Biden has signaled his willingness to support such measures.
Notably, Trump recently met with billionaire Republican donor Jeff Yass, who has investments in TikTok. The platform remains immensely popular globally, boasting over 1 billion active users.
