Trump Calls TikTok National Security Concerns ‘Highly Overrated’

Topline

President Donald Trump told reporters Friday he is “really not” worried about national security concerns regarding TikTok, the popular social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, suggesting he could again extend the deadline for TikTok to find an American buyer so it can avoid a ban in the U.S.

Trump made the comments about TikTok on Friday. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Key Facts

When asked if he was worried about national security and privacy concerns that have been voiced by lawmakers and experts about TikTok, the president said “I’m really not, I think it’s highly overrated.”

The president insisted American buyers were lining up for the app, saying he has not spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping about TikTok’s sale but will have a conversation “at the right time.”

“In the meantime, until the complexities of things work out, we just extend a little bit longer,” Trump said, suggesting he may extend the deadline for TikTok to find a buyer or face a ban once again, which would mark the fourth extension he has issued.

Trump delayed TikTok’s ban in June by 90 days, meaning yet another extension may be issued by the president in September.

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What National Security Concerns Surround Tiktok?

When Congress passed the law requiring TikTok to be sold to an American company or face a ban, lawmakers cited broad national security and data privacy concerns about the app, ByteDance and whether the two were influenced or controlled by the Chinese government. Lawmakers specifically worried about Beijing’s control of data of the more than 150 million U.S. users on TikTok. ByteDance, which is headquartered in Beijing, has denied claims it is beholden to the Chinese government. ByteDance has denied allegations of data privacy breaches. However, Forbes has found the app stored creators’ financial data in China, spied on journalists and mishandled data of top American advertisers.

Who Are Tiktok’s Potential Buyers?

Trump has said for months there are buyers lined up for TikTok but has stopped short of revealing who was actually in talks for a deal. Microsoft, which made an offer for TikTok in 2020, was mentioned by Trump as a potential buyer early this year, when he said he hoped there would be a “bidding war” for TikTok. Amazon made a last-minute bid for TikTok in April before Trump extended the deadline for a deal again, according to The New York Times. Oracle is also a potential buyer for TikTok, with the White House speaking to the computer technology company about an agreement that would give it oversight of TikTok’s U.S. data, Politico reported. Other parties that have shown interest in buying TikTok include YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, billionaire investor Frank McCourt and Perplexity AI.

Key Background

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the law forcing TikTok’s sale, was signed by former President Joe Biden in April 2024. ByteDance challenged the ban in court before the case eventually reached the Supreme Court, which upheld the ban this January. Trump, who attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, has delayed the ban from going into effect by signing executive orders extending TikTok’s deadline to find an American buyer. An acquisition of the app or its U.S. unit would be a large undertaking, as valuations for TikTok have ranged from $20 billion to $100 billion.

Topline

Key Facts

What National Security Concerns Surround Tiktok?

Who Are Tiktok’s Potential Buyers?

Key Background

Further Reading