President Donald Trump has suggested that Tesla and X owner Elon Musk could be the one to purchase TikTok after the app’s recent ban in the United States.
With the ban, which started on Sunday, TikTok was removed from both Apple and Google’s app stores, cutting off over 170 million US users from their beloved app. But Trump’s “solution”? He’s not just thinking of a sale, he’s thinking big, saying, “Buy it and give half to the United States.”
The Ban, the Ban, and the Trump Solution
The TikTok ban stems from national security concerns, largely due to the platform’s Chinese ownership. But instead of just enforcing the ban, Trump seemed to favour a rather unconventional approach.
On his first day in office, he signed an order delaying the ban by 75 days. Trump’s idea is simple: TikTok gets a US permit, and in return, the US gets half of any sale profits. Of course, it all boils down to the fact that, without that US permit, TikTok is essentially worthless in the country. But with a permit? It’s worth a trillion dollars. And that’s a business deal Trump is eager to set up.
Is Musk the Saviour of TikTok?
When asked if Musk, a known disruptor in the tech world, could buy TikTok, Trump didn’t hesitate. “I would be if he wanted to buy it. I’d like Larry (Ellison) to buy it, too,” Trump said, leaving the door open for other tech giants to enter the fray. But the key here is the US permit. Trump is positioning the government as a “partner” who could turn TikTok into a much more valuable entity simply by giving it the green light to operate legally in the US. So, in essence, it’s not just about the sale, it’s about the US securing a stake in the deal, whether it’s Musk, Ellison, or someone else pulling the trigger.
Is Trump’s Dictatorial Leadership Justified?
Many critics of Trump have pointed to his dictatorial tendencies when it comes to making decisions that affect international business. His latest comments only seem to reinforce this.
While national security concerns are legitimate, the proposition of “selling” a foreign app and splitting the profits with the US government raises several red flags. It feels more like a corporate takeover than a strategic national security initiative. Critics argue that Trump’s approach to leadership and decision-making borders on authoritarian, where business deals are made with no regard for established procedures or diplomacy.
