GOP senators are not fans of Trump's new TikTok delay
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Some Senate Republicans wish President Trump would quit standing in the way of the TikTok ban.
Why it matters: A bipartisan majority passed legislation requiring TikTok to divest or be banned in the U.S., and many Republicans view the app as a serious national security threat. But Trump is fine keeping it around a little longer.
- "I'm not overly delighted," Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) told reporters about the delay. "I don't think it's a good idea."
- "That's not my favorite thing," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told Axios about Trump's extension. "I'm fine with him trying to sell it, that's fine, but I think at a certain point we've got to enforce this law."
- "I'd like to see the law go into effect," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters on Tuesday.
The White House announced Tuesday that Trump will again extend the deadline for the TikTok ban another 90 days.
Between the lines: Some senators did not directly respond to the latest plans for delay but again warned about the dangers of TikTok and urged a quick solution.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Axios on Tuesday he is "hoping that the negotiations on a buyer are making headway enough" to find a suitable match, but "I don't think they have yet."
- He added he had "to think about" whether another delay is the right move.
- "It's probably taking second place to everything else going on in the world," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said, adding that "at some point" it will have to be eliminated from the U.S. — either by sale or ban.
The bottom line: "China has used TikTok for espionage and propaganda," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
- "That's why Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation to force the Chinese Communist government to divest, and it is my hope and expectation that that's what's going to happen."
