Why does China’s TikTok matter so much to Donald Trump?
Trump is doing all he can to save TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing app owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It's unusual because not long ago Trump had wanted to ban it. In a desperate bid to make TikTok American, he said on Wednesday he would be willing to reduce tariffs on China if it allows ByteDance to sell the app to an American buyer.
However, AFP has reported that China has rebuffed Trump's offer, with its foreign ministry saying that it has «repeatedly stated our position» on TikTok. «The Chinese side's stance against imposing additional tariffs is also consistent and clear,» foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
A US law during the Biden administration ordered TikTok to divest from its Chinese owner ByteDance or be banned in the US, enacted over concerns that Beijing could exploit the video-sharing platform to spy on Americans or covertly influence US public opinion. The law took effect on January 19, a day before Trump's inauguration. TikTok temporarily shut down in the US and disappeared from app stores as the deadline for the law approached, to the dismay of millions of users. Trump suspended its implementation for two-and-a-half months after beginning his second term on January 20, seeking a solution with Beijing. TikTok subsequently restored service in the US and returned to the Apple and Google app stores in February. Trump's reprieve to TikTok is set to expire on April 5.
Why did Trump change his stance on TikTok from wanting to ban it to going all-out to save it?
Why Trump wants to save TikTok
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During his first term, Trump issued executive orders banning TikTok and the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Courts subsequently blocked the moves. Trump ended up joining the app
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