President Donald Trump downplayed security concerns over TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app, in his first interview since returning to the White House.
Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Trump argued that fears of Chinese surveillance through the platform were overstated, emphasising its primary use for “young kids watching crazy videos.”
Trump acknowledged warnings from experts about TikTok being a potential “spying app for the Communist Chinese,” but brushed off the concern.
“I know. But you can say that about everything made in China,” the president stated. “We have our telephones made in China, our computers made in China—so why don’t they mention that?”

The platform, which has an estimated 170 million users in the United States, became a point of debate after Trump decided to halt a ban on TikTok that was set to take effect during his first day back in office on Monday. Instead, he postponed the prohibition by 75 days.
Trump’s comments reflected a softer stance on TikTok compared to his earlier presidency.
He admitted having a “warm spot” for the platform due to its popularity with younger Americans, a demographic that helped boost his support in recent years.
“So, is it important for China to spy on young people watching crazy videos?” Trump asked during the interview. “They already make your telephones, computers, and more. Isn’t that a bigger threat?”
The president indicated his preference for a compromise, suggesting that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, sell a 50% stake to an American company. “People want to buy it,” Trump claimed.

Trump’s decision to delay the ban contrasts with bipartisan efforts to curb TikTok’s operations.
Last year, Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its app ownership or face a nationwide ban. The measure passed the Senate by a 79-18 vote and the House by a landslide 360-58 margin, eventually signed into law by President Joe Biden.
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However, Biden deferred the final decision to Trump, leaving the ban to be implemented on Trump’s first day in office.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew was among the tech leaders attending Trump’s inauguration on Monday, signaling a potential negotiation between the administration and the company.
During his previous term, Trump had signed an executive order in 2020 labeling TikTok a security risk.
The order cited concerns about the Chinese Communist Party accessing Americans’ personal information, tracking federal employees, and engaging in corporate espionage. Despite these concerns, Trump later opposed banning the app, claiming it could strengthen Facebook’s influence.
“There’s a lot of good and a lot of bad with TikTok,” Trump said at the time. “But without TikTok, Facebook gets bigger, and I consider Facebook an enemy of the people along with much of the media.”
Trump’s renewed leadership and shifting stance on TikTok suggest the issue will remain a focal point of his administration’s tech policy.