Trump Calls For 50% U.S. Ownership Of TikTok
U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that he wants Chinese-owned TikTok to be at least 50% owned by U.S. investors.
Speaking at a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, Trump told his supporters, “I would allow the app to continue operating in the U.S., but let the United States of America own 50% of TikTok.”
He further stated, “TikTok is worth nothing, zero without an approval to operate.”
Trump also noted that, with U.S. approval, the app could become incredibly valuable, saying, “If you do approve, they’re worth like a trillion dollars, they’re worth some crazy number.”
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He emphasized that the U.S. would have a significant role in the app’s future, explaining, “I’m approving on behalf of the United States, so they’ll have a partner, the United States, and they’ll have a lot of bidders and the United States will do what we call a joint venture.”
This statement came amid a situation where TikTok had been blocked for about 12 hours on Sunday due to a new U.S. law mandating that the app either be sold by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or face a ban.
Following the temporary shutdown, Trump announced that he would issue an executive order to reinstate TikTok in the U.S., ensuring its continued operation under new terms.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
