), along-time proponent of the ban, deadpanned, when asked about the president’s plan to issue another extension.
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), a member of the House Intelligence and China committees, told POLITICO.
), a China hawk who voted for the ban, told POLITICO of Trump.
“I just want finality,” Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told POLITICO.
told POLITICO in a statement.
Republicans in Congress, many of whom are against China’s ongoing involvement in the popular app but simply want the whole drama to end, are once again being frustrated by President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to keep TikTok alive.
Sen said, “Not my favorite thing.”. Hawley, Josh (R-Mo. ), longtime supporter of the prohibition, deadpanned when questioned about the president’s intention to grant another extension.
He spoke just one day before the White House announced that Trump had signed a 90-day suspension of enforcement of the law that requires TikTok to separate from its parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China. This would provide the short-form video app with yet another lifeline.
Some members of the House expressed resignation and annoyance by Friday. Trump has now received three extensions since the law’s implementation in January. 19 — is an independent ruling that was not anticipated in the bipartisan legislation that Congress passed and that the Supreme Court affirmed last year.
Rep. R-Ill. Darin LaHood. told POLITICO, a member of the House committees on China and intelligence. “The vulnerabilities and issues related to national security have not disappeared. They’ve practically improved in many ways, I would say. “”.
However, Republicans in both houses have been largely confined by Trump’s extension of the TikTok law and have not expressed any desire to stop him from making these postponements nearly a regular occurrence, aside from using harsh language. While the White House attends to pressing issues like trade negotiations and the Israel-Iran conflict, many Republican lawmakers perceived this as giving the president the opportunity to close a guaranteed deal.
“I think he did the right thing, considering everything that’s going on,” Sen said. Kennedy, John (R-La. ), who supported the ban, told POLITICO about Trump. I’m worried about a lot of things, including the fact that while the extension is on the list, it’s not the most important one. “”.
The sale of TikTok was not included in the negotiations with China, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s testimony to a Senate panel last week, despite Trump’s assurances that his TikTok negotiations are closely linked to trade talks with China. This could be another barrier to Trump signing a deal soon.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S. C. ), a longtime national security hawk and close ally of the president, stated earlier this week: “The sooner we get that issue solved, the better,” but he made no recommendations for additional enforcement.
Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary (Iowa), told POLITICO, “I just want finality.”. When we decide [that the app] be sold, I want to be sure that the Congress isn’t being taken advantage of. “”.
Another House China Committee member, Rep. No more extensions,” Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) told POLITICO. Now is the moment to act. “.”.
Rep. R-Wash’s Dan Newhouse. ), who is also a member of the China panel, stated in a post on X Thursday that the law only permits one extension of the compliance deadline, adding, “I believed the law should be implemented as written and was proud to support the ban of TikTok.”. “”.
The lawmakers’ remarks were in line with those of House China Chair John Moolenaar (R-Mich.). who demanded the U.S. A. to bring China to the negotiating table by “letting [TikTok] go dark.”. That position was reaffirmed by him on Friday.
In a statement to POLITICO, Moolenaar claimed that delays only give the Chinese Communist Party more strength. “I implore the government to shield the American people from this escalating national security threat by upholding the law as written. “”.
Republicans, however, are not using their power to demand that the White House implement the law they helped draft, according to observers, for instance by refusing to provide funding or hold congressional oversight hearings.
Adam Kovacevich, the founder and CEO of the pro-tech Chamber of Progress, stated, “I keep reading that Republicans are ‘frustrated’ and ‘impatient’ about their TikTok law being ignored, but they should stop complaining to reporters and take it up with Trump.”.
The president is undermining Republicans, including his own secretary of state. While Trump has repeatedly given more time to reach an agreement for the sale of TikTok, Marco Rubio, a senator who was one of the most vocal opponents of the app’s ties to China and a strong supporter of its ban, has notably remained silent.
When Congress was considering a ban in March 2023, Rubio told POLITICO, “You have to decide what’s more important, our national security and the threat that it poses to our national security.”. You need to compare that to your estimation of the electoral ramifications. It’s a simple balancing act for me. Really, there isn’t any equilibrium. For the sake of our national security, I will always be there. “”.
A request for comment from Rubio’s State Department spokesperson was not answered.
Even Democrats who favor keeping TikTok operational claim that Trump’s strategy is flawed.
“These indefinite extensions are not only unlawful, but they also give corporate shareholders who are risk averse control over TikTok’s future,” Sen said. Ed Markey (Mass. D. in a statement to POLITICO. This is incredibly unjust to TikTok’s users and creators. Although I’m willing to try to find a solution, Trump isn’t willing to engage. “.”.
