Trump Claims TikTok Ban Would Benefit ‘Enemy of the People’ Facebook

Former US President Donald Trump has voiced his criticism against a congressional bill aiming to compel TikTok’s parent company to sell the app or face a ban in the United States. Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020 during his tenure in the White House, argued that the proposed measure would provide unfair advantages to Meta, the owner of Facebook. The ongoing debate among lawmakers revolves around a proposal that would mandate ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the platform by September 30.

President Joe Biden intends to sign the bill if it successfully passes the legislative process. In an interview with NBC, Trump asserted that without TikTok, Facebook could expand, expressing his view that Facebook is an “enemy of the people.” When questioned about the app’s security, he acknowledged both positive and negative aspects, noting the popularity of TikTok among young users.

The US intelligence community has previously raised concerns about the Chinese government exploiting TikTok to influence public opinion in the United States. A recent annual report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence revealed that TikTok accounts linked to the Chinese government’s propaganda efforts targeted candidates from both political parties during the 2022 US midterm election cycle.

While Trump agreed with the perception of TikTok as a national security threat, he also contended that Facebook posed a similar danger, particularly in the context of elections. Following Trump’s comments, shares in Meta, Facebook’s parent company, experienced a significant drop, falling over 4%, and Snap, a smaller social media competitor, also saw a decline in its stock value.

The scrutiny faced by social media companies is expected to intensify as the upcoming presidential election in November approaches. TikTok encountered a similar situation in 2020, with concerns about data privacy and potential influence by the Chinese government leading to calls for a sale or ban. Despite the executive order signed by Trump in 2020 directing ByteDance to sell TikTok, legal challenges prevented its implementation. Meta’s removal of Trump’s accounts after the US Capitol riot in 2021 added another layer to the complex relationship between social media platforms and political figures.

The proposed TikTok ban has faced opposition from the Club for Growth, a conservative lobbying group associated with Trump. Notably, Kellyanne Conway, a former top aide to Trump, has been lobbying for TikTok in Congress on behalf of the Club for Growth. The Justice Department, FBI, and other national security officials are scheduled to brief members of the House of Representatives on TikTok, underscoring the app’s significance, especially among younger demographics in the US.

The bipartisan bill has already passed a congressional committee with unanimous support (50-0) and awaits a Senate vote for final approval before potentially becoming law. The legislative developments highlight the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding the regulation of popular social media platforms with international ownership.