On the afternoon of July 31, President Donald Trump announced his plans to ban TikTok operations in the United States.
Trump was on Air Force One when he made that statement to a group of reporters.
“With regards to TikTok, we are going to block them in the United States,” said Trump.
Some anonymous sources told US media that President Trump planned to sign an order Friday that would force ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, to sell the American part of the platform.
The alleged reason: security threats.
Faced with rumors that Microsoft could acquire the short video social network, Donald Trump said he was not in favor of an American company acquiring TikTok operations in the United States.
Well, I have the authority. I can (block it) with an executive order , ” declared Trump, who could also use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act , which censor any communication tool that threatens national security.
Later, the President of the United States stressed his intentions to ban TikTok operations and take other measures, although he did not explain in detail what they would be.
“We are looking for many alternatives regarding TikTok,” he concluded.
Recall that a couple of weeks ago, Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, advanced the intentions of the United States government to block TikTok.
TikTok has so far not shared a stance on Trump’s remarks.