trump Administration Revives TikTok Deal Despite National Security concerns
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States,reversing course on a previous attempt to ban the app over national security concerns. The deal,currently under negotiation,aims to shift ownership to U.S. investors while leaving the core algorithm-a key point of contention-under Chinese control.
The shift in stance comes after a legal battle initiated by ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, following a bipartisan law passed to ban the app unless it fully disengaged from the Chinese government. The Supreme Court upheld the law, affirming a nation’s right to defend itself against foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Initially a vocal critic of TikTok, former President Trump now believes the platform can be leveraged to mobilize young voters. Sources indicate Trump attributed increased youth support in the 2024 election, in part, to TikTok’s influence. He has since issued executive orders to override the ban, intending to utilize the app to support a successor in the 2028 election.
The proposed arrangement involves a new company largely owned by U.S. investors, with existing ByteDance stakeholders potentially rolling their estimated $50 billion worth of stakes into the new entity.An initial public offering (IPO) is also being considered.
However, national security experts warn that the deal fails to address the fundamental risk: the algorithm that determines the content users see. This algorithm,developed and controlled by China,has been accused of promoting CCP propaganda and facilitating potential espionage.
While Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly agreed to allow Oracle-which will host TikTok’s U.S. user data in its cloud-to attempt modifications to the algorithm, concerns remain about the feasibility and timeline of removing potentially harmful elements. Some sources involved in the deal express skepticism that critically important changes will be made.
Critics argue that allowing tiktok to continue operating, even with U.S.ownership, leaves American minds vulnerable to CCP influence. They advocate for a complete shutdown of the app, citing the inherent risks associated with its Chinese origins and algorithmic control.
