The fate of the popular social media app TikTok is in the hands of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer following an overwhelming vote in the House in favor of a bill that could result in a ban of the China-owned platform.
House lawmakers voted 352-65 in favor of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which gives China-based parent company ByteDance six months to divest from TikTok or face a complete ban in the United States. This decisive and bipartisan vote adds significant pressure on Schumer to schedule a vote in the Senate.
However, it remains to be seen if the bill will achieve the same level of support in the upper chamber as it did in the House. Some experts believe Schumer will wait to see what President Biden’s stance on the bill will be before taking any action.
Biden has already signaled his support for the legislation, leaving Schumer with a tough decision as he weighs the political implications for the upcoming 2024 election.
On the other hand, former President Donald Trump surprised many with his opposition to a TikTok ban, arguing it would further empower rival social media giant Facebook. His former advisor, Steve Bannon, even suggested Trump’s stance may be influenced by a billionaire donor who holds a significant stake in TikTok.
While the bill has received support from key lawmakers in both parties, some Senate Republicans have expressed reservations about its potential impact on freedom of speech. This could make it difficult for the bill to pass in the Senate. Schumer must balance the political ramifications for crucial Senate races, such as those of Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester.
Forcing TikTok to divest from Chinese communist control is common sense. There’s no excuse for the Chuck Schumer to slow-walk a vote in the Senate. https://t.co/R38kmLKI6v
— Jon Gabriel (@exjon) March 14, 2024
Whether Schumer will schedule a vote on the bill in the Senate remains to be seen. He has yet to make his stance clear, stating that he will consult with relevant committee chairmen before making a decision.
However, if the House’s decisive vote is any indication, Schumer may be forced to take action to avoid backlash from both sides of the aisle and continue his party’s tough stance on China.
WATCH: TikTok bill unclear in Senate- Chuck Schumer wants new elections in Israel and won’t bring TikTok the bill to the Senate floor. What’s going on Chuck – who do you work for? pic.twitter.com/PXQNIgc2Ql
— vanhoa (@vanhoa2272) March 15, 2024
