'Flip flopper': Donald Trump slammed as he says 'I'm for TikTok' despite previously labeling it threat

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has voiced his support for TikTok, despite the potential for a ban if the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not divest its US assets.

In an interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Trump stated, “I’m for TikTok because you need competition. If you don’t have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram.” This marks a notable shift from his previous stance, where he labeled TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, as a threat.

Interestingly, Trump himself joined TikTok last month.

Donald Trump's history with social media platforms

Trump's relationship with major social media platforms has been tumultuous, especially following the Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021. Facebook and Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, suspended him for two years. This led Trump to assert in a June interview that he would "never support a TikTok ban."

During his presidency, Trump attempted to ban TikTok and WeChat in 2020, but these efforts were thwarted by the courts. Subsequently, in June 2021, President Joe Biden revoked a series of executive orders from the Trump era that sought to ban these apps.

Now, a new law signed by Biden on April 24, 2024, mandates that ByteDance must divest TikTok’s US assets by January 19, 2025, or face a ban. This law, driven by concerns among US lawmakers about potential Chinese surveillance through the app, received overwhelming support in Congress.

The fate of TikTok is set to be a significant issue in the upcoming presidential election, with oral arguments in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia scheduled for September.

Trump’s backing of TikTok is particularly notable given his stakes in social media. He holds a majority stake in Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, a rival platform.

Despite having a market cap of $7 billion, Trump Media’s quarterly revenue is around $770,000, which is comparable to the revenue of two US Starbucks shops.

Social media backlash against Trump

Trump’s support for TikTok despite having deemed it a threat in the past has sparked backlash on social media.

"Flip flopper," one posted on X.

"He’ll say anything," another wrote.

"It’s already law. Trump is just kowtowing to Xi here," someone else chimed in.

"He put tariffs on China, which Biden increased. This must be his team pandering to the younger voters," read a comment.

"This is done for election purposes and it will be forgotten promise once he wins," another alleged.

Election strategies and economic message

Despite the controversies, Trump believes his economic policies will be crucial in his campaign against the Democrats. The Republican National Convention highlighted themes of "wealth" on its opening night, reflecting Trump’s agenda of tax cuts, increased oil production, reduced regulation, higher tariffs, and fewer foreign financial commitments.

Trump is betting that this approach will resonate with swing state voters, potentially offsetting the negative perceptions from his first term, which included frequent personnel conflicts, abrupt policy changes, and early morning social media rants. The events of January 6, 2021, also cast a long shadow over his candidacy.

Polling indicates a shift among Black and Hispanic men towards the Republican Party, with frustration over high prices for essentials like food, housing, and gas driving this trend. Reports suggest that up to 20% of Black men now support Trump, although some analysts believe these figures may be inflated.

Meanwhile, Biden is facing difficulties in promoting his economic achievements, which include low unemployment and rising wages. Concerns over his age and effectiveness persist, and Trump’s potential success in the November election could lead to Republican control of the House, Senate, and the White House.

If Trump wins, he will have unprecedented influence over the U.S. economy, global business climate, and international trade. His first term demonstrated a preference for direct negotiations, giving an edge to CEOs and world leaders who maintain good relationships with him.

Conversely, his adversaries could find themselves disadvantaged and apprehensive about his actions. As highlighted in the BusinessWeek interview, Trump is fully aware of this potential power and seems determined to leverage it to its fullest extent.

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