Republican state AGs await Trump-brokered TikTok deal, remain skeptical on app safety
2025-01-28
Category: political

President Donald Trump signaled Saturday a deal could be underway soon to "save" TikTok from a looming ban, and Republican state attorneys general – many skeptical of the app's security – are waiting to see if it comes to fruition. "I have spoken to many people about TikTok and there is great interest in TikTok," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on a flight to Florida, Reuters reported.&nbsp; The reported deal Trump is working on involves partnering with software company Oracle and a group of outside investors to take control of the app's operations. According to sources familiar with the matter, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, would maintain a stake in the platform under the proposed deal. However, Oracle would take control of data management and software updates, leveraging its existing role in supporting TikTok’s web infrastructure, two sources told Reuters. ‘NO BETTER DEALMAKER’: TRUMP REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING EXECUTIVE ORDER TO 'SAVE' TIKTOK  "President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to save TikTok, and there’s no better dealmaker than Donald Trump," Trump's national press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told Fox News Digital. Several Republican state attorneys general have actively pursued actions to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns and potential data privacy issues. In December 2024, 22 attorneys general, including those from Virginia and Montana, filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the "divest-or-ban" law against TikTok. The law mandates that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations or face a potential ban due to national security concerns. TRUMP'S 'BLACKLIST': PRESIDENT-ELECT DESCRIBES THE TYPE OF PEOPLE HE DOESN'T WANT TO HIRE  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also initiated legal action against TikTok earlier this month, alleging "TikTok lied about its safety standards and concealed the truth about the prevalence of inappropriate and explicit material," according to his office's news release. Paxton's lawsuit doesn't mention the app's ban. A source close to several Republican state attorneys general told Fox News Digital on Monday that they're confident if anyone can make a deal to protect the U.S. from the Chinese Communist Party, it's Trump, but if it poses a threat to national security, then it should be banned.&nbsp; FROM TIKTOK TO TULSI: HOW MIKE PENCE IS TAKING AIM AT TRUMP 2.0  Republicans aren't the only ones concerned about TikTok. Several Democratic state attorneys general have actively pursued legal actions against the social media app, too. In October 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 12 other states and the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit alleging that TikTok exploits and harms young users and deceives the public about the social media platform’s dangers. While Trump tried to ban the app from U.S. access during his first administration, he credited TikTok for reaching young voters during the 2024 presidential campaign.&nbsp; TikTok went dark earlier this month after ByteDance had nine months to sell TikTok to an approved buyer but opted, along with TikTok, to take legal action against the law. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, citing national security risks because of its ties to China. The app was reinstated for U.S. users the following day, with Trump promising an executive order to extend TikTok's sale.&nbsp; CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP  "Welcome back!" the TikTok message read. "Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!" Fox News Digital has reached out to TikTok for comment. Fox Business' Alexandra Koch, Bradford Betz and Landon Mion contributed to this report.