In 2020, the Trump administration acknowledged the unanimous conclusion by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) that TikTok is not merely an entertainment platform but a tool for espionage and propaganda orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This issue was recognized as so pressing that in 2024, Congress enacted bipartisan legislation to require TikTok to either be sold to American owners or banned entirely. The Supreme Court upheld this law, making the requirement unequivocal: either a divestiture or a ban. There is no other option.
However, the Trump administration’s proposal of a “framework deal” strays far from the clear mandate of the law. Instead of enforcing a complete separation, the proposal would allow ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to keep a board seat while leasing its algorithm to a group of American investors. This arrangement, instead of representing a legitimate compromise, amounts to a capitulation. Licensing is not equal to ownership, and monitoring does not equate to control. As long as ByteDance can modify the algorithm from Beijing, the CCP maintains a vital instrument for influencing American opinions and conducting psychological warfare.
The administration’s weak justification for this deal is evident in its reference to Oracle’s ability to “fully inspect” the algorithm. The reality, however, appears to be that such inspections aim to uncover whether ByteDance continues to manipulate the platform’s content. The implications of this are not just theoretical; they are visible and pressing.
TikTok has already shown its capability to flood American users’ feeds with antisemitic propaganda following recent terrorist acts, as well as glorifying political violence after significant tragedies. Simultaneously, the app exerts a concerted effort to suppress critical content regarding China, such as the genocide of the Uyghurs, the crackdown in Hong Kong, and the events of Tiananmen Square. It is telling that the very algorithm fueling this corrosive content in the United States is prohibited domestically within China.
This reflects a deeper strategy of information warfare. Allowing China to maintain control over TikTok’s algorithms means permitting the CCP to manipulate what American youth consume and believe. In a crisis, should tensions escalate, for instance, with Taiwan, the CCP could exploit TikTok to disseminate pro-CCP narratives and sow confusion among the American public, potentially undermining support for intervention.
The administration’s attempts to bypass the law do not just undermine its authority but set a dangerous precedent. Congress issued a clear directive regarding divestiture, and the courts supported that mandate. Yet, the administration seems bent on redefining what “divestiture” means, creating a superficial restructuring that keeps the essence of TikTok under Chinese control. Such a move does not enforce the law—it evades it.
The broader strategic implications of offering concessions disguised as realistic solutions cannot be ignored. By acquiescing to a weakened definition of divestiture, Washington sends a message that American national security can be compromised through half-measures and loopholes. This approach mirrors previous concessions, like the agreement allowing Nvidia chip sales under the condition of a small cut for the U.S. government. Beijing is watching closely, knowing that each slight concession on TikTok strengthens its bargaining position in future trade talks and military negotiations.
Those who placed confidence in conservative leadership to stand firm against the CCP have every reason to feel alarmed and disappointed. This deal does not uphold the law or safeguard American citizens. It perpetuates Chinese influence, undermines Congress’s authority and dilutes the core principles of sovereignty that many conservatives hold dear. Historically, the United States would never have allowed the Soviet Union to control its news broadcasts during the Cold War. Why is it acceptable to permit the CCP to dictate the narratives on our children’s devices today?
The time for indecision has passed. Conservatives in Congress must not remain complicit as this proposal is pushed through under the pretense of legal compliance. TikTok poses a real national security threat. A call for full divestiture is paramount—no minority interests, no algorithm leases, and certainly no false assurances. Anything less is a blatant betrayal of the law and an excessive compromise with the Chinese Communist Party.
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