Former President Donald Trump recently played down fears about TikTok’s potential national security risks, suggesting the app’s primary use—sharing fun videos among young audiences—might not make it a significant target for espionage. He questioned whether concerns about TikTok outweighed broader security risks linked to other electronic devices made in China, such as smartphones and computers.
During his previous term, Trump issued an order calling for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations over security concerns. Although the order was blocked by the courts at the time, bipartisan lawmakers later formalized similar measures in 2024. TikTok has denied allegations of sharing user data with Chinese authorities, despite claims from officials that the app collects sensitive information, including personal, financial, and location data, which could be accessed if demanded.
Trump has credited the platform for boosting his appeal among younger voters, which influenced his decision to extend the timeframe for ByteDance to comply with regulations by 75 days under a new executive order. When asked about using TikTok himself, Trump mentioned he might consider downloading it, despite the app being previously banned from government devices due to security concerns.
