Former President Trump voices concerns over TikTok’s national security risks

Mar 11

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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Former President Donald Trump voiced concerns about TikTok, labeling it a national security threat. However, Trump — who initially favored banning TikTok — has now reversed his position.

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During an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Monday, March 11, Trump reiterated his belief that TikTok poses a national security risk. However, Trump said he opposes Congress banning it due to concerns that such action would strengthen Facebook, which he dubs an “enemy of the people.”

“There’s a lot of good and a lot of bad with TikTok. But the thing I don’t like is, without TikTok you can make Facebook bigger,” says @realDonaldTrump. “And I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people.” pic.twitter.com/nmw8CCzHDX
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) March 11, 2024

“I do believe it, and we have to very much go into privacy and make sure we are protecting the American people’s privacy and data rights,” Trump said. “And I agree, but we also very much have that problem with others. You have that problem with Facebook and lots of other companies, too. I mean, they get the information, and they deal with China, and they’ll do whatever China wants.”

Trump mentioned that he could have banned TikTok while in office but chose to defer the decision to Congress. On March 7, a House committee unanimously advanced a bipartisan bill that would compel TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face a ban in the United States. The bill is now headed to the House floor, where it needs two-thirds support to pass.

Tags: ByteDance, Donald Trump, Facebook, House of Representatives, TikTok, U.S. Congress

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE BELIEVES TIKTOK IS A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT – BUT DOESN’T WANT IT BANNED.

TRUMP INITIALLY SUPPORTED BANNING TIKTOK BUT HAS NOW REVERSED HIS STANCE.

IN AN INTERVIEW ON CNBC’S “SQUAWK BOX” MONDAY MORNING, TRUMP AFFIRMED HIS BELIEF THAT TIKTOK POSES A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK —

HOWEVER – HE NOW OPPOSES CONGRESS BANNING IT – BECAUSE HE FEARS IT WOULD BOOST FACEBOOK, WHICH HE CALLS AN “ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.”

[DONALD TRUMP]

“I DO BELIEVE IT AND WE HAVE TO VERY MUCH GO INTO PRIVACY AND MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S PRIVACY AND DATA RIGHTS. AND I AGREE, BUT WE ALSO VERY MUCH HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH OTHERS. YOU HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH FACEBOOK AND LOTS OF OTHER COMPANIES, TOO. I MEAN, THEY GET THE INFORMATION AND THEY DEAL WITH CHINA AND THEY’LL DO WHATEVER CHINA WANTS.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

TRUMP SAID HE WOULD haVE BANNED TIKTOK WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE BUT SAYS HE OPTED TO LEAVE THE DECISION UP TO CONGRESS.

LAST WEEK – A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCED A BILL – THAT WOULD COMPEL TIKTOK’S PARENT COMPANY BYTEDANCE TO DIVEST THE APP OR FACE A BAN IN THE UNITED STATES.

A FULL VOTE ON THE BILL COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.