TikTok War of Words Ramps Up

We’re in for a long few weeks as the ban-or-sell TikTok bill winds its way through Congress. The few moments of action we’re likely to see—such as this week’s vote in the House of Representatives—will be overwhelmed by lots of rhetorical shadowboxing between the various combatants. Today, for instance, the two congresspeople who sponsored the bill attacked TikTok for telling people the legislation was a “ban bill.” The congresspeople claimed this was a “deceptive” claim “consistent with the pattern of the Chinese Communist Party exerting malign influence over the app.” That seems a tad hyperbolic.

After all, even Republican Congressman and bill supporter Dan Crenshaw tweeted last week, in response to a tweet from TikTok about the legislation: “We want to ban TikTok. You’re correct.” (Admittedly, he later changed his tune). Donald Trump, meanwhile, who started the TikTok ban campaign when he was president but who has now joined the pro-TikTok camp, seems to regard the bill as a proposed ban. Today, for instance, Trump told CNBC he had switched sides because “young kids on TikTok…will go crazy without it.” No one thinks Trump is influenced by the CCP, do they? (Actually, come to think about it, forget I asked.)