Former President Donald Trump cheered the announcement, declaring victory upon finding a buyer for TikTok. This immensely popular social media platform, like others, has been under fire in the United States due to national security fears. Trump’s recent remarks come as he continues to navigate the complexities surrounding TikTok’s potential sale, which has been mandated by law following its ban in the U.S.
The platform was banned in the United States amid allegations that it threatened the safety of American user data and, necessarily, national security. Under existing legislation, TikTok has a deadline by which it must be sold. Unfortunately, Trump has kicked this law down the road time and again by issuing executive actions. These delays have faced a backlash from legislators who find these kinds of actions beyond the scope of congressional authority.
This may explain Trump’s confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping will soon grant his approval for the sale of TikTok. Increased Chinese control He cautioned that any sale would require approval from the Chinese government. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump opined on the possible sale. He teased an upcoming announcement of the new buyer, promising, “I’ll tell you in two weeks.”
This is rich coming from Trump, who made similar calls against TikTok during his time in office. Now, he believes the platform is a crucial asset to his nascent campaign for the 2024 election. The former president’s evolving perspective marks a significant change from his earlier position, reflecting his belief in TikTok’s role in reaching voters.
In fact, it’s still unclear if the buyer Trump has said he’d like to sell to is the same party that showed interest three months ago. With only days to go until the sale deadline, Trump has now made his third delay announcement this month. This decision underscores the many difficulties still plaguing the acquisition process.
The situation continues to unfold as stakeholders await clarification on the buyer’s identity and the implications of any forthcoming negotiations.