Top Democrat condemns Donald Trump's remarks over potential TikTok acquisition

As row between US government and China’s ByteDance-owned TikTok continues to grow, a senior Democrat has lashed out on US President Donald Trump for commenting on potential acquisition of American operations of video-sharing app by a US firm. Followed by rebuking Trump’s stance, Rhode Island Representative David Cicilline n said that such a deal could safeguard American interests. 

In an interview with Bloomberg News on Wednesday, August 26, Cicilline said that job of federal enforcement ncies is to determine if TikTok promotes competition or poses a threat to national security. top democrat also added that US President should t have indulged himself into outcome of decisions. 

This came after Trump signed an executive order on August 14 pushing TikTok’s Chinese owner to divest its American branch citing national security. Cicilline also weighed in on possible acquisition of same by Microsoft Corp and Oracle Corp and said that it is t US President’s role to decide buyer. In same interview, top Democrat said that “we don’t need” Trump injecting himself into a transaction in a way that he has done in past and even called politicisation of company “dangerous”. 

Read - TikTok's Parent Company Has 90 Days To Sell Or Spin US Assets, Says Trump's Latest Order

Trump has previously cited “credible evidence” for possibility of Bytedance to take action that in turns jeopardises national security of United States. latest executive order is followed by an investigation of ByteDance’s acquisition Musical.ly which was introduced in America in 2017 and n merged with TikTok. Trump has already signed a separate executive order banning American transactions with WeChat and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance in 45 days.

Read - TikTok To Fight Trump Over His Pending Order To Ban Its App

Read - TikTok's Parent Company ByteDance To File Lawsuit Against Trump's Ban Order

TikTok CEO resigns

Meanwhile, amid growing threat by Trump administration, TikTok Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mayer on Wednesday, August 26 quit company reportedly citing 'sharp changes in political environment'. This was followed by TikTok anuncing a possible lawsuit filing against White House over Trump’s executive order. According to ncy reports, TikTok General Manr Vanessa Pappas will take over post as TikTok's CEO on an interim basis.

“In recent weeks, as political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for global role I signed up for. Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all kw that I have decided to leave company,” said Mayer in a letter, cited by a news ncy. 

Read - TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer Quits Amid Trump's Threat, Cites 'changes In Political Environment'

Read - TikTok Sues US Government Over Ban, China Backs Companies 'taking Up Legal Weapons'

(With ncy inputs)