- Despite ByteDance’s potential US asset divestment and ban, Trump states that he is for TikTok.
- The final fate of TikTok is crucial for both parties’ success in the election.
OUR TAKE
TikTok and ByteDance are challenging a law that mandates ByteDance to sell its US business, a legal proceeding that could determine whether the app, with over 150 million US users, remains available. Previous attempts to ban TikTok, including one by the Biden administration that sparked public outrage, highlight the political sensitivity of the issue. Trump’s current support for TikTok may be a strategy to boost his presidential campaign by appealing to public sentiment.
— Yasmine Luo, BTW reporter
What happened?
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has declared his support for TikTok, even if its Chinese parent company ByteDance fails to divest its US assets and faces a potential ban. Trump asserts that TikTok brings essential competition to the market, contrasting with the dominance of Facebook and Instagram. “I’m for TikTok because you need competition. If you don’t have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram,” he said.
Despite previously labelling TikTok a threat to the US, Trump recently joined the platform. He has expressed dissatisfaction with Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram for suspending his accounts and stated in an interview that he would never support a TikTok ban.
A US appeals court will hold oral arguments on September 16 to consider challenges to a law requiring ByteDance to divest ownership by January 19 or face a ban in the US. This hearing, set by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, will determine TikTok’s fate during the crucial final weeks of the 2024 presidential election.
While the Biden administration signed the law mandating the divestiture decision, it clarified that it seeks to end Chinese ownership on national security grounds rather than impose an outright ban on TikTok. Biden’s campaign joined TikTok in February.
Also read: US House committee votes to release TikTok hearing transcript
Also read: US lawsuit against TikTok focuses on children’s privacy
Why it’s important
According to a report released by TikTok in early April, 55 million Americans currently shop on the platform. In 2023, TikTok generated $14.7 billion in revenue for small and medium-sized businesses. It is undeniable that TikTok has evolved into a significant social ecosystem, crucial for both expressing opinions and promoting economic growth.
“The House passed the ban under the guise of the Foreign Aid Act, which will trample on the free speech of 170 million Americans, destroy 7 million businesses, and eliminate a platform that contributes over $24 billion to the US economy annually,” a TikTok spokesperson stated.
TikTok and ByteDance are challenging the constitutionality of the law that requires ByteDance to sell its US business. This legal proceeding could determine whether the app, with over 150 million US users, will remain available for download. The previous TikTok ban signed by the Biden administration already sparked public outrage, and this further explanation might be an attempt to ease public sentiment and gain votes. Similarly, during Trump’s tenure, there was an attempt to ban TikTok, and his current public support for the app may be aimed at bolstering his presidential campaign.
