In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has once again shifted his stance on the popular video-sharing app TikTok. This time, he is accusing President Joe Biden of wanting to ban the app, a move that is in stark contrast to Trump’s previous efforts to force a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company.
Trump’s latest comments come amidst ongoing security concerns regarding TikTok’s Chinese ownership and data practices. During his time in office, Trump and his administration raised alarms about the potential for TikTok to share user data with the Chinese government, leading to an executive order that sought to force the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a domestic company.
However, Trump’s efforts to ban TikTok were met with numerous legal challenges and controversies, with many experts questioning the legality and justification of such a move. Ultimately, a deal was struck with Oracle and Walmart to acquire a stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations, but the deal was later put on hold and ultimately shelved by the Biden administration.
Now, Trump is seizing on this inaction by the Biden administration to claim that Biden is soft on China and is not taking the necessary steps to protect American interests from potential Chinese influence through apps like TikTok. Trump’s accusations have drawn mixed reactions, with some criticizing him for politicizing the issue and others expressing concerns about the security implications of allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.
As the debate over TikTok’s future in the U.S. continues, it is clear that the issue is far from settled. With ever-evolving concerns about data privacy and national security, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. Only time will tell how the Biden administration will navigate this complex and politically sensitive issue, and whether TikTok will once again become a focal point of U.S.-China relations.
