President Donald Trump has voiced opposition to the proposed ban on China’s TikTok social media app.
Trump warns that such action would inadvertently strengthen Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, which owns the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms.
The 45th president asserts that Zuckerberg and his companies are the “true enemy of the people.”
Trump’s comments, shared on his Truth Social account Thursday, take aim at Meta CEO Zuckerberg, whom he accuses of electoral interference in the past.
Trump argues that removing TikTok would only bolster Facebook’s dominance, a company he claims has undermined previous elections.
His stance aligns with ongoing legislative efforts aimed at addressing concerns about TikTok’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business,” Trump said.
“I don’t want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better.
“They are a true Enemy of the People!”
A bipartisan bill, introduced by 19 U.S. lawmakers, seeks to compel ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its U.S. operations within six months or face prohibition.
The legislation underscores the perceived national security risks posed by apps controlled by foreign adversaries.
The former president’s assertions regarding TikTok echo findings by investigative journalist Peter Schweizer in his book, “Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans.”
Schweizer uncovered references from restricted Chinese military journals depicting TikTok as a “modern-day Trojan Horse.”
He says the app is utilized for what Chinese strategists term “information-driven mental warfare” against American youth.
Schweizer’s research delves into the CCP’s strategic use of cultural products, including apps like TikTok, to shape beliefs, values, and perceptions on a global scale.
He emphasizes the significance of the “cognitive space” and advocates for leveraging cultural tools to influence ideology and behavior on a mass scale.
Many sources continue to monitor and investigate China’s alleged exploitation of TikTok as a means of ideological influence and propaganda targeting younger generations in the United States.
Trump’s position on TikTok arises amidst heightened concerns over the platform’s potential to serve as a conduit for CCP propaganda and influence operations.
During his first term, Trump pushed for a nationwide ban on TikTok due to national security concerns.
Since then, however, Zuckerberg and his companies have emerged as a far greater domestic adversary.
Zuckerberg’s efforts to sway elections for Democrats and censor conservatives on his platforms have become a mounting threat.
While Trump’s efforts to ban TikTok during his tenure ultimately faltered, the debate surrounding its perceived threats to national security and democratic processes persists.
Congress is considering the issue during the heated presidential election year.
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