https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-tiktok-ban-reversal-china-jeff-yass-why.htmlhttps://www.axios.com/2024/03/09/tiktok-ban-trump-republicansFormer President Trump stunned Republican China hawks this week when he appeared to argue against banning TikTok, the juggernaut video app owned by Beijing-based Bytedance and beloved by young Americans.
Why it matters: Trump spearheaded the original U.S. threat to ban TikTok over national security concerns. Four years later, President Biden and Congress have picked up the mantle — with a bipartisan bill targeting Bytedance set to hit the House floor next week.
Driving the news: "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I don't want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!" Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday.
Hours earlier, a key House committee voted unanimously to advance a bill — backed by Biden — that would force ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok within 165 days.
Members of Congress were bombarded with calls and threats from angry constituents this week after TikTok launched an aggressive campaign warning its users that the app was at risk of being shut down in the U.S.
