Former President Donald Trump has made his firmest statement yet on TikTok, declaring that he would “never ban TikTok.” This remark came during a conversation with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, where Trump outlined his strategy to attract young voters amidst the backdrop of the 2024 elections.
“Well, the big message is vote for Trump. We’re going to make our country greater than ever before,” Trump said, positioning himself as a contender against President Biden, whom he dubbed the “worst president in history.”
Kirk pressed Trump on whether he would ban TikTok, highlighting Trump’s recent viral return to the platform with a video about his UFC 302 appearance, which garnered a staggering 121 million views. Trump responded emphatically, “I will never ban TikTok,” signaling a notable shift from his previous stance.
Kirk shared the exchange on TikTok, dubbing Trump “TikTok’s favorite president.” This declaration carries weight given the app’s ongoing scrutiny over national security concerns due to its ties to the Chinese Communist Party through its parent company, ByteDance.
In contrast, in April, President Biden signed a bill mandating ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or face a ban in the U.S., a stark departure from Trump’s current stance. While in office, Trump had issued an executive order to ban TikTok in 2020 but has since reversed his position.
Reportedly, Trump’s change of heart followed a meeting with Jeffrey Yass, a major campaign donor who owns a significant stake in ByteDance. Trump’s newfound praise for TikTok aligns with his efforts to court young voters, a demographic that heavily utilizes the platform.
“Just so everyone knows, especially the young people, Crooked Joe Biden is responsible for banning TikTok,” Trump proclaimed on Truth Social in April after Biden signed the bill. He accused Biden of aiding Facebook’s dominance, labeling it “ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”
Biden’s campaign intends to continue leveraging TikTok to engage with younger voters as long as the app remains accessible. Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence, a vocal advocate for restricting TikTok, criticized Trump’s remarks, emphasizing the app’s purported security risks.
“TikTok is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and poses a threat to the national security and privacy of the American people,” Pence cautioned. He urged the next president to uphold the law and expel what he deemed the “CCP’s spyware” from American soil, underscoring the ongoing debate over the app’s place in U.S. digital landscape.
