Washington, D.C.— President-elect Donald Trump has called for at least 50% ownership of the Chinese-owned short-form video app TikTok by U.S. investors as a condition for its continued operation in the United States.
Speaking to supporters at a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, Trump emphasized that TikTok must have significant U.S. ownership. “The United States of America must own 50 per cent of TikTok,” he stated, adding, “TikTok is worth nothing, zero, without an approval to operate.”
Trump argued that the app’s value hinges on U.S. authorization, claiming, “If you do approve, they’re worth like a trillion dollars, it’s a crazy number. I’m approving on behalf of the United States, so they’ll have a partner: the United States. It’ll be what we call a joint venture.”
The popular app temporarily blocked access to U.S.-based users for approximately 12 hours on Sunday. This came after a new U.S. law mandating TikTok be sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban.
However, the platform resumed operations after Trump announced plans to issue an executive order reinstating TikTok’s availability in the U.S. once he assumes office on Monday.
Trump’s remarks highlight his administration’s focus on securing greater American control over foreign-owned tech platforms, framing the move as a strategic decision to protect U.S. economic and national interests.
By Taiwo Olatinwo| January 20, 2025
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