Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has caused a stir this week, taking aim at Mark Zuckerberg and Meta in response to the ongoing debate in the Senate over banning TikTok, the social media app that has almost 150 million active users per month in the U.S. Here are his full comments.
Meta vs. TikTok
In a social media rant on Trump’s own platform, he railed against Zuckerberg and Meta in general, stating, “TIKTOK IS LESS OF A DANGER TO THE USA THAN META (FACEBOOK!), WHICH IS A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.”
A Threat to National Security?
This is the second time in a week Trump has called Meta an “enemy of the people.”
Zuckerberg vs Trump
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Trump stated, “Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people.”
The Battle of Tech Giants
Trump alleges that Meta “SPENT $500,000,000 AGAINST ME AND OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY, “LOCKBOXES” AND ALL, AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DO THAT.”
The $500 Million War
According to the Associated Press, Zuckerberg didn’t donate to the Democrats, instead donating $400 million to non-profits that were running elections during the pandemic.
Alleged Meddling in Elections
However, these non-profits allegedly changed voting infrastructure in important swing states weeks before the 2020 election, causing Trump to lose out.
Zuckerberg’s Alleged Influence
The lockboxes Trump is referring to are ballot drop boxes, which allowed voters to drop off completed ballots outside polling centers during the 2020 election.
Trump’s Claims
While Trump, in the CNBC interview, acknowledged “there’s a lot of good, and there’s a lot of bad” with regards to TikTok and national security, his social media post implies that he’s behind TikTok as they didn’t contribute money against his run for president. “TIKTOK DIDN’T,” it reads.
Trump’s Warning
Trump is worried that banning TikTok will give Meta too much power, “LIKE CROOKED JOE BIDEN, FACEBOOK IS A GREAT THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, AND IT WILL ONLY GET BIGGER AND STRONGER IF TIKTOK IS TAKEN OUT.”
Ban Both?
His solution is simple: ban both platforms and restrict companies’ spending on elections – “DO THEM BOTH? – AND RESTRICT THE MONEY ALLOWED TO BE SPENT ON POLITICS, AND LOCKBOXES, BY META/FACEBOOK!!!”
Bill Targeting TikTok’s Parent Company
Trump’s remarks came after the House passed a bill requiring TikTok’s parent company – ByteDance – to sell the app to a new company or face a U.S.wide ban.
The bill gives TikTok around five months to find a new owner, or else it will be banned from app stores in the U.S.
House’s Overwhelming Vote
The bill passed with a huge bipartisan majority, 352-65, although whether it will pass the Senate is still up in the air.
The TikTok Dilemma
TikTok has become incredibly popular with the young and old in the last few years, but there have been worries about it for a long time.
Privacy Risks
Lawmakers stated the bill was “designed to address legitimate national security and privacy concerns,” as worries over China’s influence in TikTok have grown.
Worries Over TikTok’s Chinese Ties
There’s a deal of worry that the Chinese government could access U.S users’ data through TikTok, a claim that TikTok’s CEO strongly denies.
Meta Feels the Trump Effect
Trump’s comments caused Meta’s stock to plummet by almost 5% – hitting the lowest point it’s been in 8 months.
Market Fallout
Its market valuation has taken an almost $60 billion hit since Trump began his attacks.
Trump’s Evolving Stance
Trump’s stance on TikTok has shifted since his time in power. He previously attempted to ban it in 2020, however, was stopped by Federal Judges.
Now he has moved his crosshairs on to Meta and their substantial influence.
Security vs. Competition
In Monday’s interview, Trump said that he still believes TikTok poses a security risk, “But when I look at it, I’m not looking to make Facebook double the size. And if you ban TikTok, Facebook and others — but mostly Facebook — will be a big beneficiary, and I think Facebook has been very busy.”
Facebook’s Election Impact
Trump went on to explain, “I think Facebook has been very bad for our country, especially when it comes to elections.”
Senate’s Decision Looms
The fate of this new bill now rests with the Senate.
Biden’s Stance
If approved it will go on to President Biden, who stated last week “If they pass it, I’ll sign it.”
White House Urges Action
White House press Jean-Pierre echoed these comments, stating “We hope the Senate takes action, and takes this up very quickly.”
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