House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar believes that President-elect Donald Trump is the ideal leader to negotiate the deal to keep TikTok available in the U.S. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in January 2025 on the law requiring TikTok to be divested from foreign adversary control, with a deadline set for ByteDance to sell TikTok by Jan. 19. If they fail to do so, Google and Apple will no longer feature TikTok in their app stores in the U.S. The law also allows for a 90-day extension if ByteDance is in the process of divesting.
Moolenaar expressed confidence that Trump will be able to secure a deal for America, labeling it the “deal of the century”. He suggested that the divestment could happen in stages, starting with a buyout followed by a massive IPO, possibly the largest in history. Moolenaar believes that once TikTok exhausts its appeals and the Supreme Court rules, the sale could be completed quickly. He also warned that without divestment, the Chinese Communist Party could manipulate perceptions in the U.S. and access American data through TikTok.
TikTok and ByteDance have filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court to block the law while they appeal, arguing that it is a violation of the First Amendment. However, Moolenaar stressed the importance of divestment to prevent CCP influence in American culture. TikTok has implemented ‘Project Texas’ aimed at addressing national security concerns by isolating the U.S. version of the platform and managing data in America. Chew, TikTok’s CEO, has maintained that TikTok is not tied to any one country, despite past reports of Chinese access to American data.
Moolenaar emphasized the need for divestment to protect national security, citing concerns about CCP influence through TikTok. He believes an American or friendly nation-affiliated company should be in charge of the app to satisfy the law. He praised Trump’s negotiation skills and leverage provided by legislation in securing a deal with the CCP. Trump has indicated support for TikTok, meeting with Chew and suggesting a review of the app and the impending ban. Moolenaar highlighted the shift in the CCP’s stance on allowing the sale of TikTok and how leverage from legislation is driving negotiations.
Moolenaar pointed out the differences in the TikTok algorithm between the U.S. and China due to CCP influence, further underscoring the need for divestment to protect national security. He commended Trump’s negotiation tactics and leverage provided by legislation as crucial in securing a deal with the CCP. Despite Trump’s expressed support for TikTok, Moolenaar stressed the importance of divestment to ensure the app is controlled by an American or friendly nation-affiliated company. The looming threat of a TikTok ban underscores the urgency for a resolution to the divestment issue.
