Former President Donald Trump Gives Input On Possible TikTok Ban

Former President Donald Trumpis speaking out on the possible TikTok ban, revealing his true feelings about the social media platform.

TikTok has been a hot topic as of late, with the United States legislation demanding the social media platform to break ties with ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company. President Joe Biden has also said he would sign a bill to ban TikTok, which has prompted many to think the social media platform would be no more.

The 77-year-old former President previously called the Chinese-owned social media platform a national security threat, and now he is doubling down on those claims.

In a long-winded answer, Trump said he "believes" that TikTok is a national security threat.

“I do believe it and we very much have to go into privacy and make sure that we are protecting the American people’s privacy and data rights,” he told CNBC’s 'Squawk Box.' “But, you know, we also have that problem with other — you have that problem with Facebook and lots of other companies too.”

The former President then admitted that banning TikTok is a “tough decision to make" because that would only help Meta and Facebook's popularity.

“Frankly there are a lot of people on TikTok that love it. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it,” Trump told the outlet.

Adding, “There are a lot of users, that is, you know a lot of good, and there’s a lot of bad with TikTok, but the thing I don’t like, is without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger — and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, along with a lot of the media."

“If you ban TikTok, Facebook and others, but mostly Facebook, will be a big beneficiary," Trump said, claiming it has been “very bad for the country."

According to the Associated Press, "Lawmakers from both parties have long expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over data on the 170 million Americans who use TikTok."

The former President of the United States claims he could have banned the social media platform if he wanted to, but he left it up to Congress.

“I could have banned TikTok. I had it banned just about, I could’ve gotten it done. But, you know, I said ‘I’ll leave it up to you, I didn’t push them too hard, because let them do their own research and development, and they decided not to do it,” he told the outlet.

During the 2024 Oscars, former President Donald Trump made his opinion on Jimmy Kimmel's hosting duties known.

"Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars," Trump began in his Truth Social post. "His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC 'talent,' George Slopanopoulos," he added, referring to 'Good Morning America''s George Stephanopoulos. "He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous."

"Also a really bad politically correct show tonight, and for years - Disjointed, boring, and very unfair. Why don’t they just give the Oscars to those that deserve them. Maybe that way their audience and TV ratings will come back from the depths," Trump continued before concluding with, "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Jimmy Kimmel read the post live on television before clapping back at the former President.

“See if you can guess which former president just posted that on Truth Social? Anyone?" Kimmel asked the audience. "Well, thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching. I’m surprised. Isn’t it past your jail time? He’s focused on the important stuff, for sure.”