Former President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that he now opposes barring access to TikTok, blaming President Joe Biden for any possible restrictions. Trump believes Biden is pushing to ban TikTok to benefit his friends at Facebook and increase their dominance over the Republican Party. The House of Representatives recently voted in favor of banning TikTok over concerns about it being run by a China-based company, with the legislation now heading to the Senate. Despite Trump’s opposition, a majority of House Republicans supported the ban bill, including a few of his allies like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Trump’s change in stance on the TikTok issue comes after he enacted an executive order in 2020 that would have banned the platform if ByteDance did not sell it within 45 days. The order was blocked in court, with a federal judge ruling that Trump had overstepped his official powers. Now, Trump claims that banning TikTok could benefit Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, which has been at odds with him since suspending his account following the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He referred to the efforts to ban TikTok as “election interference” and urged voters to remember this on Election Day.
Despite Trump’s opposition, the majority of House Republicans supported the TikTok ban bill during the recent vote, with only 25 GOP lawmakers voting against it. Some of Trump’s allies like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene opposed the legislation, believing it was too broad and did not allow for amendments. Gaetz expressed concerns about the lack of opportunity to present amendments and have them voted on. Meanwhile, most Democrats voted in favor of the ban, although 33 lawmakers broke with the rest of their caucus on the issue.
The House of Representatives passed the legislation to ban TikTok in the United States, citing concerns about its ties to a China-based company. The bill would require TikTok to be sold by parent company ByteDance within a year, or face a ban in the country. President Joe Biden had previously indicated that he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk, further complicating the issue. Trump’s reversal on the TikTok fight reflects his concerns about the possible consequences of banning the platform, especially in light of the ongoing feud between Meta and himself.
The TikTok ban issue has become a subject of contention in Washington, with Trump and Biden taking opposing positions on the matter. Trump has accused Biden of pushing for the ban to benefit his friends at Facebook and undermine the Republican Party. Biden, on the other hand, has signaled support for the legislation to ban TikTok over national security concerns. The clash between the two leaders highlights the complexities of regulating social media platforms and addressing cybersecurity threats in an increasingly globalized digital landscape. The fate of TikTok in the United States now rests in the hands of the Senate, as lawmakers grapple with the implications of banning the popular social platform.
