As Donald Trump reverses his position on potentially banning TikTok ahead of an expected House vote this week on legislation that could lead to it being blocked in the U.S., the former president has been rebuilding his relationship with a GOP megadonor who reportedly has a major financial stake in the popular social media platform.
Trump met with the donor, hedge fund manager Jeff Yass, earlier this month at a Club for Growth donor retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 1.
The Club for Growth, a conservative political organization to which Yass has donated millions, has opposed anti-TikTok efforts.
The group's president last year wrote: "Giving the government the power to ban apps and pick and choose between competing apps is a huge restriction on phone freedom."
The former president, who had originally spearheaded efforts to ban TikTok during his time in the White House, reversed his stance last week, posting on his own social media platform that getting rid of TikTok would benefit Facebook and that he doesn't want that to happen, suggesting Facebook is a bigger problem for the country.
"I don't want Facebook ... doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!" he wrote.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for more information about what motivated Trump's changing view, and it's not yet known what he and Yass discussed in their March 1 meeting.
Rachel Maddow had a segment on this tonight as well. Just funnel some money to Trump and he’ll soften his negative opinion of you. Also worked for Anheuser Busch (Bud Light).
-------------------------------- “It's hard to win an argument with a smart person. It's damn near impossible to win an argument with a stupid person." -- Bill Murray
Posts: 13890 | Location: The outer burrows | Registered: 27 April 2005
Elections can be lost by annoying even a modest number of people. There is a sizable tik tok community who will be very angry and show their displeasure in the voting booth. Do i think Biden is tone deaf enough to do something as stupid as promote banning tik tok. In a word,yes. Fixing a problem that 98% of Americans don’t perceive as a problem while ignoring more substantive issues doesn’t bode well for the democrats.
kluurs, not sure why you're singling out Biden on this one. Are you saying he should oppose the bill in order to get votes?
The bill is getting bipartisan support, including from a GOP Speaker who has refused to let other more important bills even come up for a vote.
quote:
A bill that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being unavailable in the United States is quickly gaining traction in the House as lawmakers voice concerns about the potential for the platform to surveil and manipulate Americans.
The measure gained the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson and could soon come up for a full vote in the House. The bill advanced out of committee Thursday in a unanimous bipartisan vote — 50-0.
It may be getting bipartisan support but it's an issue on a silver platter for Trump to use. And even the GOP who might be supporting it will deny when campaigning.
Posts: 35428 | Location: West: North and South! | Registered: 20 April 2005
Originally posted by Piano*Dad: Trump is available for a price, on anything.
And he needs the money.
-------------------------------- “It's hard to win an argument with a smart person. It's damn near impossible to win an argument with a stupid person." -- Bill Murray
Posts: 13890 | Location: The outer burrows | Registered: 27 April 2005
It seems a bit silly to add to the issues for which some people will make this a major issue. Abortion and guns have big constituencies behind them.
Admittedly, not all 120 million Tik Tok users will vote as a group, but it opens a door. There are some 300,000 people who use Tik Tok for a source of income. They'll likely vote block-like. Biden didn't have to jump in with his "I'll sign it" but since he has, DJT is now playing the "want Tik Tok, I'm your man." In elections where a few thousand votes one way or another can cost an election, I don't quite understand the effort to strengthen his opponent, but Biden seems to have a gift for that - "act decisively, think it through later."
