Staff Reports
In the recent Republican presidential debate, the candidates showcased their eagerness to ban TikTok, revealing a clear contrast with front-runner Donald Trump’s vague stance on the popular social media platform. While the candidates on stage expressed their support for banning TikTok or pressuring its Chinese parent company to sell, Trump has yet to clarify his plans for the app if he is reelected.
The competition among Republican presidential candidates on the debate stage to signal eagerness to ban TikTok drew a contrast with the lack of clarity about front-runner Donald Trump's intentions for the ubiquitous social media platform.https://t.co/EN0aW4hdM8
— Conservative News Daily (@ConservNewsDly) November 10, 2023
During his current presidency, Trump attempted to remove TikTok from Chinese ownership with an executive order in 2020, but faced obstacles along the way. Surprisingly, his campaign materials avoid addressing TikTok directly, despite its growing prominence and the ongoing debates surrounding its status. When asked for comment on his proposed policies regarding TikTok, the Trump campaign did not respond to the Washington Examiner.
Trump’s campaign agenda does, however, mention his determination to protect national security by eliminating Chinese intelligence operations in the country. Trump criticized his opponent, Joe Biden, for being “weak on China” after he revoked Trump’s executive order and opted for an investigation into the app. Although he did not explicitly state his intentions, Trump could potentially file another executive order to force TikTok’s sale if he wins the presidency.
Meanwhile, most of Trump’s competitors in the debate enthusiastically endorsed a ban on TikTok. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie labeled the app as not only spyware but also a source of intentional mental pollution for American youth. Christie criticized Trump for not implementing a ban, citing it as a significant failure of the Trump administration. Sen. Tim Scott supported a similar order to Trump’s attempted action, emphasizing the need to eliminate Chinese influence on the app altogether. Tech executive Vivek Ramaswamy advocated cracking down on any U.S. company transferring data to China, but interestingly, he has recently embraced TikTok to promote his own 2024 presidential campaign. Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley clashed over his use of TikTok, with Ramaswamy highlighting that Haley’s daughter actively uses the app, much to her frustration.
In terms of current legislative developments, the Biden administration is engaged in negotiations with TikTok, although it remains unresponsive to the proposed solutions from the company. Several Congress members have introduced bills targeting TikTok, but none of them have gained significant traction for a vote. Sens. John Thune and Mark Warner introduced the RESTRICT Act, granting additional powers to the Commerce Department to regulate tech business deals involving countries like China and Iran. Sens. Marco Rubio and Josh Hawley proposed complete bans on TikTok, while Sen. Tim Scott introduced legislation requiring apps like TikTok to disclose their country of origin to users.
The Republican debate highlighted the candidates’ enthusiasm for banning TikTok, exposing Trump’s lack of clarity on the matter. While Trump previously attempted to address the app’s Chinese ownership, his plans under a potential second term remain uncertain. The debate stage witnessed candidates engaging in heated discussions about the risks TikTok poses to national security, with some faulting Trump for not taking stronger action. As legislative deliberations continue, the Biden administration negotiates with TikTok, and lawmakers introduce various bills to regulate or ban the platform, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain.
