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Trump Security Adviser Open to Continued Chinese Ownership of TikTok Under Certain Conditions

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Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz suggested that President-elect Donald Trump may consider allowing TikTok to remain under Chinese ownership if measures are implemented to ensure American users’ data is securely stored in the United States. Waltz’s comments came during an interview with CNN on Sunday, as TikTok ceased operations for its 170 million U.S. users due to a newly enacted ban over concerns of potential misuse of data by Chinese authorities.

Waltz stated that Trump is working to “save TikTok” and hinted at the possibility of establishing “firewalls” to safeguard U.S. data. Additionally, TikTok noted in a message to users that Trump had promised a likely 90-day reprieve once he assumes office on Monday. Waltz told CBS News that this extension would allow TikTok to address key issues and evaluate potential buyers.

Despite Waltz’s remarks, Republican leaders in Congress appear divided on the matter. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism about continued Chinese ownership, advocating instead for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app entirely. “It’s not the platform… It’s the Chinese Communist Party,” Johnson emphasized during an NBC “Meet the Press” interview.

Other Republican lawmakers, including Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts, strongly oppose any extension of TikTok’s ban. In a joint statement, they argued that there is “no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of (the ban’s) effective date.”

The debate highlights ongoing tensions over TikTok’s ownership and data privacy concerns, with the future of the platform’s U.S. operations hanging in the balance.

 

US Considers Potential Rules to Restrict or Bar Chinese Drones

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The U.S. Commerce Department is exploring new rules that could restrict or ban Chinese-made drones in the United States, citing national security concerns. The department announced on Thursday that it is considering measures to safeguard the U.S. drone supply chain, emphasizing that threats from China and Russia could allow adversaries to remotely access and manipulate these devices, thereby compromising sensitive U.S. data.

China dominates the U.S. commercial drone market, accounting for the majority of sales. In response to these national security concerns, the Commerce Department is seeking public comments on potential rules, with a deadline set for March 4. The proposed regulations could mirror those applied to Chinese vehicles, which may face similar restrictions or bans due to concerns over foreign-made equipment, chips, and software embedded in drones.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo previously indicated that the department could impose restrictions akin to those that would effectively bar Chinese vehicles from U.S. markets. The focus would primarily be on drones containing Chinese or Russian-made components. Raimondo hopes to finalize the regulations on Chinese vehicles by January 20, coinciding with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

This move follows a series of actions taken by the U.S. government over the past year to address concerns about Chinese drones. Last month, President Joe Biden signed a law that could result in a ban on new models from China-based DJI and Autel Robotics, two of the largest drone manufacturers. Under this law, a U.S. agency must assess whether drones from these companies pose national security risks within a year. If no decision is made, DJI and Autel could be prevented from launching new products in the U.S.

DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, which accounts for more than half of all commercial drones sold in the U.S., has responded by warning that an inability to launch new products would hurt its business. The company has also taken legal action, suing the U.S. Department of Defense for designating it as a company with ties to China’s military. DJI denies these claims and has asserted that its products do not involve forced labor, despite Customs and Border Protection halting some of its drone imports under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

U.S. lawmakers have repeatedly expressed concerns about the potential risks posed by Chinese-made drones, citing data transmission vulnerabilities and surveillance issues. In 2019, Congress passed a law banning the Pentagon from using drones or components manufactured in China.