President Donald Trump unilaterally paused the law passed by Congress from taking effect that mandates TikTok sell to an American owner. After sticking their necks out to oppose the Chinese-owned company, Republicans are now crossing their fingers that the president doesn't make them look foolish, Semafor reported.
“Go back to the details of the law,” Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) told reporters. “It’s very clear the whole purpose was divesture outside of the ByteDance ownership. So we cannot give even 10%, 20%, 50% to ByteDance. There is no gray area on this issue.”
Some Republicans are hoping that he can use the TikTok ban as leverage with China on other things. Trump welcomed TikTok CEO Shou Chew to inaugural events on Monday.
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“I am hopeful that this is part of a bigger strategy to negotiate with China, to make them come to the table on other things,” said Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), who serves on the House select committee on China.
“I’m hopeful that the law is the law. And ultimately it’s going to have to be followed,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said. "If it can bring around a buyer, which it was designed to do, then we’ll see. But I think we’re living on borrowed time with TikTok.”
Other Republican Trump allies like Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), who voted for the TikTok ban, now says he trusts the company.
“The law says that TikTok has to show us categorically, unequivocally, that they do not have the ability to share Americans’ data with the Communist Party of China,” Kennedy told Semafor.
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary posted on X that he's been involved in meeting with Republicans over the sale of TikTok. The problem is the parent company wants nothing to do with the negotiations.
“Investors can purchase ByteDance. They’re not interested in selling," said O'Leary.
Trump was an opponent of TikTok in the past and led his party down the path to the ban. Now it's causing them awkwardness.
"Republicans are left with few options but to cross their fingers that their business-savvy president can pull off a deal in time," wrote Semafor. "If Trump’s interest in shared US ownership of the app doesn’t materialize, or if his order fails to hold up in court, lawmakers will be forced to revisit the same national security threats they’ve already agreed that TikTok presents."
