Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, who’s been tapped by President-elect Trump as his national security adviser, said in a Fox News interview that Trump is looking into ways to “preserve” TikTok.
Waltz made the comment after Fox anchor Bret Baier asked him about a report from The Washington Post suggesting that Trump was considering an executive order to temporarily halt enforcement of a federal law that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok by Sunday.
Recently, the Supreme Court heard a legal challenge to the law, brought by TikTok, its parent company ByteDance, and the app’s users. The Justices seemed inclined to uphold the law, which forces ByteDance to sell off TikTok over national security concerns or face a ban in one of its biggest markets.
“If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the law, President Trump has been very clear: First, TikTok is a great platform that a lot of Americans use, and it’s been really effective for his campaign in reaching voters,” Waltz said. “But second, he’s going to make sure people’s data is protected.”
Trump’s stance on TikTok has shifted since his first term. He previously tried to ban the app over national security fears, but now, during his 2024 campaign, he’s using it to connect with younger voters, especially males. His team has been posting content designed to go viral and have a bit of a “macho” vibe. Trump has even promised to “save TikTok” and credits the app with helping him win over more young voters.
