House Republicans Forge Ahead with TikTok Ban Bill Despite Trump's Concerns
Despite President Trump expressing reservations, House Republicans are determined to proceed with a vote on a bill that seeks to prohibit TikTok in the U.S. unless it severs ties with its Chinese parent company.
House Republicans are moving forward with a vote on Wednesday to ban TikTok in the United States unless it separates from its Chinese parent company. Despite former President Donald Trump showing some concerns about the legislation, the vote is still scheduled.
Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is optimistic about the bill passing. She reassured that even though the former President has reservations, he has previously shown support for regulating the app.
She mentioned that this aligns with Donald Trump's actions as president. He also saw TikTok as a national security risk, and we need to address this ongoing threat. She suggests taking a look at the bill.
Additionally, supporters of the bill have been working quietly to counter TikTok's lobbying efforts. They have organized a classified briefing for all House members on Tuesday at 1 p.m. to discuss the app's potential threat to national security.
A laptop keyboard and TikTok on App Store displayed on a phone screen in the background are seen in this illustration photo taken on August 13, 2023.
A laptop keyboard and TikTok on App Store displayed on a phone screen in the background are seen in this illustration photo taken on August 13, 2023.
Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images
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McMorris Rodgers talked about the bill at a House GOP whip meeting on Monday night. The bill will be brought up for a vote under suspension of the rules, which is a quicker process that needs a two-thirds majority to pass. Leadership is not officially pushing for the bill to be passed.
Members can receive a classified briefing from the Department of Justice and other intelligence agencies regarding the perceived threat of apps owned by foreign adversaries, according to McMorris Rodgers. The effort is focused on addressing questions and gaining more support.
GOP Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia, a member of the Energy and Commerce committee, mentioned that those who attend the briefings may gain insights that the former president currently does not have access to.
Rep. Jeff Duncan, a member of the Freedom Caucus and Energy and Commerce, has been working to inform Trump's team about the implications of the bill. He explained, "We have been in touch with their team to clarify things... It's important to understand that TikTok is owned by ByteDance, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party." Duncan, a Republican from South Carolina, mentioned, "We have had discussions to share information without any conflict."
GOP Rep. Greg Pence of Indiana is working to clarify misunderstandings about the bill concerning TikTok. The bill would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within 165 days or face being banned from US app stores. Supporters emphasize that the bill does not mandate American ownership, but rather prohibits ownership by a foreign adversary.
Pence stressed the importance of dispelling the idea of a ban associated with the bill. He pointed out that it is not targeted at a specific company like TikTok, despite some misconceptions. He expressed concern that there may be a lack of understanding among the public regarding the details of the bill.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is confident that the bill will pass in the chamber. However, its fate in the Senate is less certain. Scalise mentioned in an interview with CNN that he has been in talks with senators who have shown interest in the legislation.
On the other hand, amid House Republicans' efforts, TikTok CEO Shou Chew has been attempting to schedule meetings with senators. According to a source familiar with the situation, Chew has been facing challenges in getting some senators to agree to meet. Reports from Punchbowl News first highlighted Chew's efforts to arrange meetings with senators.
While some senators are still reviewing the legislation on Monday night, a core group of senators have shown support or openness to the House bill. 
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Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg/Getty Images
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Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks expressed confidence that the measure will pass, stating, "I would think that we need to keep moving forward." When asked about potential influence from Trump on undecided Republicans, she did not express concern.
She also mentioned that TikTok's campaign, which aimed to encourage users to call members of Congress, backfired.
The Iowa Republican received many calls from young people and others who were unfamiliar with Congress and the reason for their call. This demonstrates efforts to engage individuals in advocating for maintaining the current structure.
GOP Rep. Chip Roy disagreed with Trump's inconsistent position on the app.
"He's wrong," Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, told CNN. "I mean, it's not the first or last time that I'll disagree with the former president. The TikTok issue is pretty straightforward, it's not even about TikTok. It's about ensuring we're protecting the data of the American people."
The Texas Republican continued: "We know what's happening with Tik Tok and the Chinese Communist Party's control of that, so we should address it. This bill is a good faith effort to do that without targeting them specifically."
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good is currently assessing the TikTok legislation and leaning towards voting in favor of it. He clarified that Trump's stance will not influence his decision.
On the other hand, Texas Rep. Troy Nehls, a strong supporter of Trump, expressed his opposition to the app and its connections to China. However, he remains undecided on the bill as he wishes to listen to Trump's perspective before making a final decision.
“I’ll have to have a conversation with him. See what his thought process is,” Nehls said.
CNN’s Sam Fossum, Manu Raju and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The article provides a thorough overview of the upcoming House Republican vote to ban TikTok unless it separates from its Chinese parent company. Despite former President Trump's concerns, the vote is still scheduled, indicating strong bipartisan support for regulating the app. Supporters argue that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its ownership by ByteDance, a company controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
Additionally, the article delves into the lobbying efforts by TikTok and the countermeasures taken by supporters of the bill. A classified briefing for House members has been organized to discuss the potential threat of the app, emphasizing the need to address the perceived influence of foreign adversaries on American data. The article also mentions the efforts of TikTok CEO Shou Chew to schedule meetings with senators to advocate for the app, highlighting the intense lobbying efforts underway. these efforts. The bill's potential impact on TikTok's users, including concerns about privacy and the availability of the app, is not extensively discussed in the article, leaving room for further analysis and debate on these aspects.
