US President-elect Donald Trump’s close ally Mike Waltz revealed that the Trump administration plans to allow TikTok to operate in the US while remaining under its current Chinese ownership. This revelation contradicts previous statements suggesting a potential sale of the platform.
According to Waltz, who is set to become national security adviser after inauguration on Monday, the team is working to “save” TikTok and protect American data from foreign interference. The app switched off for 170 million Americans following a Supreme Court ruling that banned it due to its alleged links to the Chinese government.
Trump has vowed to offer ByteDance, the Chinese-based technology firm that owns TikTok, a 90-day extension to settle the issue. However, Waltz suggested that the app would not have to be sold after all, but instead could operate under certain conditions.
The plan includes allowing a US entity to purchase 50% of the platform, with Trump stating that this would “save” TikTok and allow it to continue operating. This move has been met with surprise from some, who had previously assumed the app would have to be sold due to its alleged ties to China.
Waltz emphasized that the Trump administration is not “capitulating” to China, but rather finding alternative solutions to protect American interests. The plan also includes implementing firewalls to protect data on US soil, which would prevent foreign interference.
Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/team-trump-admits-it-doesnt-mind-china-running-tiktok