Donald Trump has played down fears that China is using TikTok to spy on Americans — just days after signing an executive order that delayed a ban on the social media app.
The president sat down with Fox News mogul Sean Hannity and said the app is for kids who watch crazy videos.
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Trump's comments come just days after the Supreme Court upheld a law that would have led to the app being banned across America.
The app went dark on Sunday before gradually being restored.
Trump signed an executive order postponing any ban.
He wants a US company to own a 50% stake in the social media giant.
Hannity pressed Trump about supposed links between the app and the Chinese Communist Party.
“I know that,” Trump told Fox News. “But you can say that about everything made in China.”
“Look, most of our phones are made in China. We have a lot of stuff made in China.
“So why don't they mention that?
“But the interesting thing about TikTok is that you engage with a lot of young people.
“So is it important that China spies on young people, on young children who watch crazy videos?”
Trump used TikTok frequently during his successful 2024 campaign, and it helped boost his support among young voters.
Within hours of his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok temporary residency.
The ban has been postponed for 75 days.
ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, must sell the platform or the app, which is used by 170 million Americans, will be banned in the United States.
How can Trump save TikTok?
On January 17, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld a bill introduced by Congress banning TikTok in the United States.
The ban went into effect on January 19 and users received a message that the app was no longer available.
But bosses have urged fans to stay informed.
Joe Biden refused to take any action regarding implementing the ban before leaving office on January 20.
He said the issue would be up to the next administration.
President Donald Trump pledged to save the app.
Trump signed an executive order to postpone any ban for 75 days.
He wants a US company to own a 50% stake in the social media giant.
Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum have expressed concerns that Chinese Communist Party elites could use the app to spy on Americans.
National security officials claimed the app had a frightening ability to access, track and store data, according to Axios.
Michael McCaul, a Republican representative, described the TikTok application as a spy balloon on Americans' phones.
“If you have TikTok on your phone right now, it can track where you are, it can read your text messages, it can track your keystrokes,” said Josh Hawley, Republican senator from Missouri.
“He has access to your phone records.”
Hawley claimed this represented a threat to national security and a threat to personal security.
Security concerns
Shou Chew, TikTok's CEO, has strongly denied any allegations that the app is acting as a proxy for Beijing.
After the Supreme Court ruling, the app temporarily went dark, leaving influencers desperate.
Mock funerals were held in New York City as Americans mourned the apparent collapse of the social media network, which has soared in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Users cried when they encountered a message stating that the app was no longer available in the US.
“A law has been enacted banning TikTok in the United States,” she added.
“Unfortunately, this means you can't use TikTok at the moment.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to bring TikTok back once he takes office. Please stay tuned.”
Chiu was among the technology leaders at Trump's inauguration.
He was sitting next to Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
Chiu was sitting next to Meta mogul Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
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