The United States Department of Justice is defending the Trump administration’s decision to force the sale of popular social media app TikTok or face a ban in the country. The move comes after President Trump signed an executive order that gives the Chinese-owned app 45 days to find a buyer for its US operations.
The Justice Department argued in a court filing on Friday that the executive order was necessary to address the national security concerns posed by TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company ByteDance. The department stated that the order was a response to the “threats posed by TikTok to US national security and foreign policy interests.”
The Trump administration has long been concerned about the security risks posed by TikTok, citing the app’s data collection practices and its potential for Chinese government surveillance. In response, TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, stating that it stores all US user data on servers located in the United States and Singapore, not China.
Despite TikTok’s claims, the Trump administration has taken a hardline stance against the app, with President Trump even calling for a ban on the platform if it is not sold to a US company. Microsoft and Oracle are among the companies that have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s US operations.
The Justice Department’s defense of the executive order comes as TikTok is challenging the administration’s decision in court. The app filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration earlier this month, arguing that the executive order violates the company’s right to due process and freedom of speech.
The legal battle over TikTok’s future in the United States is likely to continue as the deadline for the app to find a buyer approaches. The Trump administration has made it clear that it will not back down on its decision to force TikTok’s sale or face a ban, setting the stage for a showdown between the government and the popular social media app.
