Former President Donald Trump criticized Facebook, calling it “an enemy of the people,” while expressing his opposition to a potential TikTok ban. During a CNBC “SquawkBox” interview, Trump acknowledged the mixed impact of TikTok, highlighting its popularity among young users but also its potential security risks. Despite his previous stance on TikTok as a national security threat, Trump voiced concern that banning the app would inadvertently benefit Facebook, a platform he criticizes alongside the media.
Trump, who had attempted to enforce a ban on TikTok during his presidency due to data privacy and national security concerns, reiterated the importance of safeguarding American data rights. He criticized some American companies for their readiness to comply with foreign demands, implying a security risk. Yet, his primary concern with banning TikTok seems to revolve around the potential growth it could grant Facebook, a company he views unfavorably.
The former president also mentioned a recent meeting with Jeff Yass, a significant GOP donor and TikTok investor, stating that TikTok was not discussed. Trump’s comments come amid bipartisan legislative efforts to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from its U.S. operations or face a ban, reflecting ongoing concerns about the app’s influence and data practices.
His remarks also revisit his contentious relationship with Facebook, which banned him in the aftermath of the January 2021 Capitol riots, a decision later reversed by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
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