Following Donald Trump’s recent victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, speculations are mounting over TikTok’s future in the United States. With Trump’s return to the White House, the fate of the Chinese-owned social media giant has become increasingly uncertain. Throughout Trump’s previous term, his administration considered banning TikTok due to perceived security risks linked to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Trump’s Election Win Puts TikTok on the Chopping Block
TikTok has already faced considerable scrutiny under President Joe Biden, with the Biden administration pushing the platform to divest from ByteDance. The social media platform even pursued legal action to protest the Foreign Adversary law (HR 7521), which mandates severing its Chinese ties. With Trump back in office, many fear that he may take a harder stance against TikTok, potentially leading to an outright ban.
During Trump’s campaign, he softened his position on TikTok, even creating an account on the platform and hinting that a ban was no longer in the cards. However, his stance on ByteDance’s ownership remains a significant concern, especially amid allegations that TikTok could be sharing user data with the Chinese government.
Could TikTok Be Banned in the U.S.?
There is still a strong possibility of TikTok facing a ban in the United States due to a bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year. In his previous term, Trump attempted to force TikTok to sell its U.S. operations to an American company, with tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle expressing interest. Oracle eventually won the bid, securing TikTok’s continued presence in the U.S. under strict conditions.
Now, with Trump back in power, there are fresh fears that TikTok’s connection to ByteDance could prompt a renewed push for divestment or a full ban. Observers argue that if Trump enforces a ban, it could benefit American companies like Meta Platforms, potentially giving Facebook and Instagram an edge if TikTok is removed from the market.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.