Trump claims to have mystery buyers for TikTok
IndependentJUN 29
Trump Claims TikTok Buyer Found, Won't Name Group for 2 Weeks
Above: The TikTok logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. Image copyright: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Selling TikTok isn’t censorship — it’s common sense. No foreign power should hold the keys to the data and minds of 170 million Americans. With ByteDance ultimately answerable to the Chinese government, divestment protects national security without silencing a single voice. The platform can thrive under new ownership — free from foreign manipulation and unchecked surveillance.
Anti-Trump narrative
Washington’s arm‑twisting fire‑sale of TikTok is less security policy than political theater: a president hawking a speech platform to his cronies while Congress plays auctioneer. Hand‑picking owners shreds capitalism, chills free expression, and swaps Beijing’s leverage for domestic patronage. The republic shouldn’t barter citizens’ voices like distressed assets.