Top Democrat Reveals Trump’s TikTok Plan
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) recently suggested that President-elect Trump will find a way to ensure that TikTok is sold to a U.S.-based owner. Speaking during a CNN interview on “Anderson Cooper 360,” Jeffries referenced bipartisan legislation passed by Congress last year, aimed at addressing national security risks associated with the popular app. The legislation requires TikTok’s divestiture from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and the transition of ownership to an American entity.
Jeffries emphasized that this legislation is designed to secure American control over the app, as concerns about China’s potential access to U.S. user data have intensified. “What it required was divestiture and American ownership,” Jeffries said, adding that he expects the incoming Trump administration to make it happen. “We’re in the ‘America First’ era,” he noted, signaling the expectation that the new administration will prioritize national security by ensuring that TikTok becomes an American-owned company.
In response to growing concerns, President-elect Trump has proposed a “50 percent ownership position” for the U.S., a suggestion that could allow TikTok to continue operating in America. Jeffries, however, cautioned that any such arrangement would require legislative action, and that only time will tell what concrete solutions are put forward.
This debate comes on the heels of TikTok’s decision to briefly suspend access to the app in the U.S., following a deadline to divest from ByteDance or face a ban. TikTok quickly moved to restore its service, citing talks with its U.S. service providers and the clarity provided by the incoming Trump administration. “We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity,” the company stated, highlighting the app’s role in supporting millions of American users and small businesses.
As discussions around TikTok’s future unfold, it’s clear that national security and American interests must come first. President Trump’s administration is committed to ensuring that foreign adversaries don’t gain a foothold in critical American tech platforms.
