Over the weekend, President Trump (R) drew criticism over his focus on wanting to ban the social media platform TikTok, calling the platform a spying apparatus for China.
This comes during a time when Republican lawmakers have largely condemned China over the technological threat it poses to the United States, and as Democratic lawmakers continue to criticize the president over COVID-19 and the economy
In response, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D), who played a large role in the impeachment process, took to Twitter to criticize the President’s focus, questioning that “with more than 150,000 dead due to COVID19, our economy is a free fall, and federal unemployment benefits lapsing for millions of Americans, does President Trump really have nothing better to do than take down a social platform he does not like?”
Rep. Nadler's statement is questionable and solely political as many Democratic and Republican lawmakers have already confirmed China's efforts to compromise U.S. national security, so Trump's move to ban Tik Tok is widely seen as a move to protect national security.
With more than 150,000 dead due to COVID19, our economy in a free fall, and federal unemployment benefits lapsing for millions of Americans, does President Trump really have nothing better to do than take down a social platform he does not like? https://t.co/UdldzYzhbw
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) August 1, 2020
The President has not responded to the criticism, but information has been released regarding big tech companies trying to avoid the ban even as U.S. intelligence has confirmed that China is actively spying on American interests and stealing American intellectual properties.
Shortly after Trump made the announcement, it was announced that Microsoft is considering a buyout of TikTok. Officials from Microsoft and representative executives from TikTok have been involved in ongoing discussions with the White House in order to prevent the Trump administration from making the move.
In a statement released by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Satya commented that “Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns,” adding that Microsoft “is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury.”
