TRUMP OFFERS MORE INSIGHT INTO HIS STANCE ON THE TIKTOK ‘BAN’
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that could result in the banning of the popular social media platform, TikTok, and the legislation seems to have garnered as many critics as supporters.
Among the voices weighing in on the potential TikTok ban is President Donald Trump, who has pointed out that the Chinese-tied platform is “LESS OF A DANGER” than Meta’s Facebook.
On Truth Social, he explained, “TIKTOK IS LESS OF A DANGER TO THE USA THAN META (FACEBOOK!), WHICH IS A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. THEY SPENT $500,000,000 AGAINST ME AND OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY, ‘LOCKBOXES’ AND ALL, AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DO THAT. TIKTOK DIDN’T.”
According to The New York Times, the bill would force TikTok, owned by parent company ByteDance, to sell the platform or else have the app banned altogether in the United States. The bill passed with robust bipartisan support.
Critics have argued that the bill is overbroad and that it would also give the federal government authority to implement increased censorship on apps and websites in the United States. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., called the bill a “trojan horse.”
Additionally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., expressed her disapproval of the bill’s requirement that “the sale of a company owned by a ‘enemy.'” She clarified,“While I certainly will always do everything in my power to protect Americans and put America first, who and which company may become the enemy tomorrow?”
President Trump argued during a Monday interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that banning TikTok would only strengthen Facebook’s social media monopoly. He reiterated that sentiment in his Friday Truth Social statement.
He concluded, “LIKE CROOKED JOE BIDEN, FACEBOOK IS A GREAT THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, AND IT WILL ONLY GET BIGGER AND STRONGER IF TIKTOK IS TAKEN OUT. DO THEM BOTH? – AND RESTRICT THE MONEY ALLOWED TO BE SPENT ON POLITICS, AND LOCKBOXES, BY META/FACEBOOK!!!”
Data collected from rsbnetwork website