The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on a bill that would ban TikTok in the United States unless its China-based owner sells the popular app.
WASHINGTON – Former President Trump has reversed course and now opposes banning social media giant TikTok. But his new stance, and the full coverage from TikTok and its millions of users, haven’t swayed his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill.
House Republican leaders on Wednesday voted to ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless its parent company, China-based ByteDance, also agrees to sell the popular video-based company app. proceeding.
And even some of President Trump’s conservative allies in Congress said they have no problem criticizing the party’s presumptive presidential nominee for his newfound position on TikTok.
“Well, he’s wrong. By the way, he had his own executive order, he had his own actions, and now… all of a sudden he pivoted to that. ” said Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. Right-wing Freedom Committee. “So this is not the first or last time I disagree with the former president. TikTok’s question is very simple.”
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“I respect and admire President Trump,” the surrogate added. . Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida, is another Trump supporter. “No one controls how I vote on any issue.”
Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemies Regulatory Applications Act — of the Select Committee to Investigate the Communist Party of China Co-authored by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.). and Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat of Illinois. — gained momentum last week when it passed the Energy and Commerce Committee on an unusual 50-0 vote. President Joe Biden approved the bill.
“TikTok needs to decide whether to continue partnering with ByteDance and ultimately be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or choose to sell and operate in the United States,” said Chairman of Energy and Commerce. said Kathy McMorris. Rogers, R-Wash., shepherded the bill through committee.
The bill is expected to pass the House on Wednesday, but faces an even more uncertain path in the Senate, where leaders say they are still considering the bill.
FBI Director Christopher Wray and members of Congress from both parties have said they view TikTok as a national security threat. In particular, they believe the Chinese government is using TikTok to access the personal data of more than 150 million users and use algorithms to create videos that could influence users’ views on issues such as the upcoming presidential election. I am concerned that there is a possibility that this could be shown.
This bill deals with “withdrawal from the Communist Party of China.” “It’s very simple,” said Díaz Balart, whose family fled Cuba after Fidel Castro took power. “We would never have accepted the Chinese Communist Party or the Soviet Union or whatever country controlled and owned NBC or CBS.”
National Security Officials Say 20 Of The Threats posed By TikTok A confidential briefing session will be held for all members of the House of Representatives on the same day. Tuesday afternoon. President Trump appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this week and said he agrees that TikTok poses a serious threat to national security, but said he could not support banning the app. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew denied in
Congressional testimony that the Chinese government controls the app, saying China is acting on its access to U.S. user data. refuted that claim. TikTok mobilizes millions of users to pressure lawmakers to reject bills The social media giant has set up a pop-up window on its app that allows users to call their representatives. , flooded Congressional offices last week. In-app messages continued Tuesday. One person said: “The government will take away the community you and millions of other Americans love.”
Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to Shaw, “manipulating and mobilizing the American people.” “People will stop spreading falsehoods,” he said on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. ” TikTok responded in a letter that “it was clear from the beginning that their [Congress’] real goal was to ban TikTok in the United States.” The Senate discussed “the economic impact of the ban on their lives,” according to a person familiar with the matter.
Mr Shaw is scheduled to meet with senators on Wednesday and Thursday as the battle moves to the Senate.
Another Trump supporter, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), said she saw Trump’s comments on TikTok and was “considering it.” However, she added that the United States is currently at a dangerous crossroads with China.
“And this app has the potential to become a mass surveillance tool against the American public.” “So it’s all about the people who use social media,” said Luna, a former Air Force veteran and Instagram influencer. “You know, I worked as an influencer in Congress. Of course, given that, we can’t have anything that would give an opportunity to a foreign adversary.”