Sun Dec 22 22:09:00 UTC 2024: **Trump Signals Support for TikTok’s Continued Operation in US**
PHOENIX, ARIZONA — President-elect Donald Trump indicated Sunday that he may allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States, citing the platform’s significant contribution to his presidential campaign. Speaking at AmericaFest, a conservative gathering, Trump highlighted the billions of views his campaign garnered on TikTok, suggesting a potential reversal of a Senate-passed law mandating the app’s divestiture from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, over national security concerns.
The Senate law, passed in April, requires ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19th, a day before Trump’s inauguration. Should the Supreme Court, which is currently reviewing the law, not rule in ByteDance’s favor, a ban would take effect.
Trump’s comments represent a significant shift, as the Justice Department maintains that Chinese control of TikTok poses a national security threat. TikTok counters that its data and content moderation are primarily managed within the United States. While the President-elect’s method for overturning the Senate’s decision remains unclear, his meeting with TikTok’s CEO on Monday further underscores his apparent softening stance. His statement that he has a “warm spot” for TikTok due to its campaign success adds to the uncertainty surrounding the app’s future in the US.
First Piper 