In Washington, the White House made it clear on Sunday that it backs a bill aimed at disconnecting TikTok from its Chinese roots. This legislation would require TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or risk it being banned in the U.S.
John Kirby, a national security communications adviser for the White House, shared on ABC News’ “This Week” that the administration is aware of the American public’s concerns. Kirby emphasized, “This isn’t about a ban. We don’t want to ban TikTok. We know many people depend on it for their livelihood.”
The goal, according to the administration, is to separate TikTok from ByteDance. The company, based in China, has been vocal against this move, arguing that the worries about TikTok’s data usage are baseless.
In related news, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is reportedly gathering investors to bid for TikTok. This move underscores the administration’s push for TikTok to be divested from ByteDance due to data security concerns. Kirby pointed out that Americans should be wary of how ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party might use the data collected from TikTok users.
Kirby also touched on international matters, specifically Israel’s military plans concerning Rafah in Gaza’s southern region, amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. He stated that the U.S. would not support such an operation unless the safety and security of the 1.5 million refugees in Rafah could be guaranteed.
The U.S. continues to urge Israel to minimize civilian casualties and to facilitate the entry of more aid trucks. Kirby highlighted the importance of working towards a temporary ceasefire to ensure the safe release of hostages.
Martha Raddatz questioned Kirby about President Joe Biden’s stance on a potential Rafah invasion, which Biden had previously indicated would be a “red line” for him.
Furthermore, the U.S. has announced an “emergency” mission to build a floating pier off Gaza’s coast to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory. This operation brings American forces closer to the conflict zone. Kirby mentioned that the first components of the pier were dispatched from Norfolk, Virginia, last week, with the project expected to take six to eight weeks to become operational.
Kirby did not provide a direct answer when asked how the mission could be accomplished without U.S. military presence in Gaza.
Additionally, the White House is focusing on providing more military support to Ukraine as it defends against Russia’s invasion. This comes after a delay in Congress over immigration policy discussions. House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that the funding bill is likely to pass with Democratic support. Kirby stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that Ukrainian forces are in dire need of support as they face Russian advances.
This comprehensive update highlights the White House’s stance on various national and international issues, from TikTok’s future in the U.S. to military and humanitarian efforts abroad.