Mike Waltz, nominated to be Donald Trump’s national security adviser, said on Wednesday that the president-elect is actively exploring options to preserve TikTok, despite the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the platform.
According to a report by the Associated Press, Waltz, in an interview addressed concerns about a potential ban on the platform, following reports that Trump might issue an executive order to suspend the enforcement of a law that could lead to TikTok’s nationwide ban.
Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments about a federal law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok on national security grounds or face a ban. The Justices appeared to lean towards upholding the law, which would affect one of TikTok’s largest markets, the US.
Waltz defended TikTok’s value, noting that it had become a powerful platform for engaging millions of Americans. He pointed out that TikTok played a significant role in Trump’s 2024 campaign, especially in connecting with younger voters. “TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use and has been great for his campaign,” he remarked.
“He’s a deal maker. I don’t want to get ahead of our executive orders, but we’re going to create this space to put that deal in place,” he added.
In response to the legal challenge, Waltz assured that Trump’s administration would protect users’ data, while also exploring avenues to strike a deal to preserve the app in the US.
Trump’s position on TikTok has evolved since his first term, when he attempted to ban the app over national security concerns.
