Listen To Story Above
Sen. Tom Cotton, despite being a strong Trump ally, might stand in opposition to the president’s efforts to preserve TikTok, according to recent reports.
The potential roadblock stems from discussions about a “licensing agreement” between Oracle and ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, as reported by the New York Post.
While Oracle and TikTok executives maintain that housing the app’s algorithm within Oracle’s cloud infrastructure would ensure U.S. control rather than Chinese oversight, Cotton remains skeptical. As the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, he’s made his position clear: any deal must fully comply with bipartisan legislation requiring TikTok’s complete separation from Chinese ownership and control.
🇺🇸TOM COTTON: ARE YOU CHINESE?
TIKTOK CEO: “I’M SINGAPOREAN”
COTTON: “BUT ARE YOU CHINESE??”
TIKTOK CEO:…Tom Cotton: "Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party?"
Shou Chew: "Senator, I'm Singaporean. No."
Tom Cotton: "Have you ever been associated or… pic.twitter.com/yWGuhcWLki
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 31, 2024
The situation has sparked internal debates among White House officials about the merits of pursuing TikTok’s preservation given China’s reluctance to surrender complete control. One White House insider told the Post, “I know Trump likes the app, he thinks it helped him win in November, but with everything else on his plate, is it worth saving?”
A source close to Cotton informed reporter Charles Gasparino, “If this deal doesn’t comply with the law, he’s absolutely against it, but it’s too soon to say what the substance of the deal will be.”
The timeline for resolution is approaching quickly. Trump recently appointed Vice President J.D. Vance and national security adviser Michael Waltz to supervise the potential sale, with Vance anticipating a “high level” agreement by April 5.
Videos on TikTok that glamorize suicide and violence led two young Arkansans to take their own lives.
The app is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party and serves young Americans dangerous addictive content. We should ban it. pic.twitter.com/7lqVrdfoUW
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 31, 2024
ByteDance faces pressure from federal legislation requiring it to divest from TikTok by January 19 or face a nationwide ban. Trump’s executive order at the start of his second term provided a 75-day extension for enforcement.
Recent developments include discussions between Oracle, Microsoft, and the White House about taking control of TikTok. The proposed arrangement would allow ByteDance to maintain a minority stake while Oracle manages the app’s algorithm, data collection, and software updates.
With TikTok’s U.S. user base reaching 170 million, Trump has indicated that four different groups are now competing to acquire the platform. His previous statements suggested a preference for a deal giving the U.S. government 50% control of the application.
