'He’s a hypocrite': Internet divided as Donald Trump supports TikTok amid Congressional bill to ban Chinese-owned social media platform
WASHINGTON, DC: On Friday, March 8, former President Donald Trump unequivocally voiced his opposition to the potential TikTok ban under consideration by Congress. He argued that such a ban would play into the hands of Facebook, which he labeled as "a true Enemy of the People."
In a Truth Social post, Trump remarked that eliminating TikTok would lead to Facebook doubling its business, specifically mentioning Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
It's noteworthy that Zuckerberg banned Trump from Facebook and Instagram on January 7, 2021.
Donald Trump backs TikTok amid Congress considering bill to ban the app
Trump posted, "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I don’t want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!"
Significantly, Trump was banned from Facebook one day after supporters of the former president stormed the US Capitol in January 2021, in an attempt to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.
Trump released a statement expressing his fury a few months after the Meta CEO's decision, "Next time I’m in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife. It will be all business!"
On Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced measures aimed at regulating TikTok with a unanimous vote of 50-0. Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the proposed measure earlier this week.
The measure would provide ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of the popular video-sharing app, with 165 days to sell TikTok or face potential removal from app stores operated by Google, Apple, and other companies.
Moreover, House Speaker Mike Johnson supports the measure, and President Biden has indicated his intention to sign it into law if it reaches his desk.
Notably, amid worries that ByteDance might provide the Chinese Communist Party access to user data, Biden signed the 'No TikTok on Government Devices Act' in December 2022, banning the app from federal government devices and systems.
Previously, Trump endorsed the prohibition of TikTok in the United States. In August 2020, he even issued an executive order granting ByteDance a 45-day timeframe to divest the social media company.
Following a judge's intervention that stopped Trump's decision, Biden promptly rescinded the ban upon assuming office. He directed the Department of Commerce to conduct an investigation into whether TikTok poses a national security threat.
Internet stays divided as Donald Trump backs TikTok
People on the internet stayed divided as former president Donald Trump backed TikTok in one of his recent Truth Social posts.
A user on X posted, "He’s a hypocrite because Trump wanted to ban TikTok when he was President," whereas another added, "I thought the Biden campaign just joined TikTok? Were they not pleased with the comments?"
He’s a hypocrite because Trump wanted to ban Tik Tok when he was President.
— Jedi Rich (@jedirich_) March 9, 2024
I thought the Biden campaign just joined TikTok? Were they not pleased with the comments?
— Jenna Fredo (@LynkLuv) March 9, 2024
A user also posted, "Banning TikTok is a violation of the 1st amendment," whereas another mentioned, "He wanted to ban TikTok, why he refuse now?"
A person also stated, "Unreal this guy."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
