Trump downplays concerns over China using TikTok for surveillance, calls it an app for young kids watching crazy videos

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Wednesday downplayed concerns about the Chinese government using TikTok to surveil Americans — saying they would observe “young kids watching crazy videos.”Trump, 78, said in his first interview since reclaiming power that he was aware of security concerns about the platform, which has an estimated 170 million US users, but thought they were overblown.“Those that say they know say it’s a spying app for the Communist Chinese,” Fox News host Sean Hannity told Trump in an Oval Office sit-down two days into Trump’s second term.“I know.But you can say that about everything made in China,” Trump replied.“Look, we have our telephones made in China for the most part.

We have so many things made in China.So why don’t they mention that?”Trump, who said he had a “warm spot” for TikTok due to his improved performance among young voters, noted that the network is used primarily for amusing videos.“The interesting thing with Tiktok, though, is you’re dealing with a lot of young people, So is it that important for China to be spying on young people, on young kids watching crazy videos?” Trump said.“They make your telephones and they make your computers and they make a lot of other things.

Isn’t that a bigger threat?”Trump halted the implementation of a congressionally approved ban on TikTok on his first day in office on Monday, postponing the prohibition by 75 days.Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update.

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Never miss a story.TikTok CEO Shou Chew joined other tech titans in attending Trump’s Monday inauguration.The newly sworn-in president said he wants Chinese owner ByteDance to sell a 50% share to an American partner.“People want to buy it,” Trump told Hannity.Congress voted overwhelmingly last year to ban TikTok if...