Trump signs executive order banning TikTok, WeChat on Sept. 20

AppleInsider

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that will block any transactions between U.S. companies and the parent firms of TikTok and WeChat starting Sept. 20.

Credit: Kon Karampelas

The order, which follows weeks of threats to ban the popular video apps from the U.S., will essentially force ByteDance and Tencent to divest from TikTok and WeChat, respectively, or stop operating those apps in the country.

In the order, the White House claims that the spread of Chinese-owned communications apps in the U.S. "continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States." The order then singles out TikTok and says "action must be taken to address" its threats.

INBOX: @realDonaldTrump has signed an executive order to ban TikTok in 45 days. pic.twitter.com/1zR4HgCPVj

-- Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg)

August 7, 2020

Citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the order will prohibit any transaction with ByteDance and Tencent in regards to communications apps, and would place sanctions on any company found to be violating the order. It will take effect in 45 days after its release or on Sept. 20, whichever comes first.

At present, the executive order doesn't apply to games. So, Epic Games isn't affected, as it is partially owned by Tencent.

Previously, Trump said TikTok would need to end its operations in the U.S. if an American company, such as Microsoft, did not purchase it.

Although Apple was said to have expressed interest in acquiring ByteDance, the Cupertino tech giant later refuted those rumors. Currently, Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok -- a move that Trump approved of Thursday.

According to The Verge, Trump also signed a parallel order applying the same ban on Tencent, the Chinese-based owners of WeChat.

The president has also stated that a significant portion of the money from the deal should go to the U.S. Treasury, a move that China and some experts are cautioning against.

cheesefreeze

America’s “free market” and “democracy” values appear only valid when it benefits their own wallet. Fake values. I immigrated to California and back to Europe, and although the vast majority of people in CA have been amazing, the country itself is a complete corrupt mess. 

viclauyyc

Can Taktok sell to UK or Canadian Companies? I guess not. I believe  trump think US is the only Allies country. Which to me, it is more like Axis.

I don’t like TakTok or Chicom. But I really hope they will court challenge Trump. Because I think they will mostly win.

ciprol

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

baconstang

Trump's probably down on TikTok because he hasn't figured out to work it.
Once he's figured out how to use/abuse it, he'll do anything to make sure it stays around.

seanismorris

President Trump had little understanding about what was important in the negotiations of trade agreements with China.  Rather than focus on what was important, mainly protecting IP, and opening markets, he went off the rails and demanded China purchase more food from USA.

His bumbling negotiations made everything worse (as usual) and here we are, attempting to “look strong” on China to improve his election chances.  He’s targeting TikTok specifically because young people (Americans) on TikTok hate his guts, and successfully interfered with a rally. 

 Is this related to a risk to Americans? Nope.  It’s fear of young people interfering with the election.  Since they don’t have a vote, TikTok (and other apps like it) give them a voice.

Bottom line, if TikTok was a real threat they could have audited the code, and not just banned it.  Trump has no idea what he’s doing.  If they disliked him before, now he’s pissed them off.  Who’s pissed?  Millions of young tech savvy Americans with to much free time on their hands (exacerbated by the coronavirus). This is going to blow up in his face... What a fool!

edited August 2020

rotateleftbyte

TikTok must be the perfect platform for his soundbites. Most of what he says is complete and utter rubbish but every so often he comes out with a bit of gold. Such as 'We are gonna build that wall and Mexico is gonna pay for it!'.

peza

According to this article:

http://www.macrumors.com/2020/08/07/trump-bans-us-business-tencent-bytedance/

The ban he has signed also includes Tencent, which make and run the official Call Of Duty and PUBG mobile games... so how does what he has done affect those two incredibly popular worldwide games? 

Personally I don’t think he has a leg to stand on and is the worst most arrogant idiot leader that’s ever existed. He hasn’t caused a war, yet, or genocide, but he’s pretty much done everything else it seems including his quote, we have nukes why can’t we use them?
And he has definitely caused a trade war.

I look forward to another 4 years if his disastrous leadership as no doubt he will be voted back in.
I also look forward to the response on this from Apple and Microsoft as I believe both were said to be interested in buying TikTok.

Your reputation America is sinking faster and faster, and it’ll probably take you a very long time to recover.

edited August 2020

markbyrn

Not mentioned of course is the fact that China has long banned all Google apps, Twitter, Facebook,, etc.  This order should have come long ago and strictly as a matter of reciprocity.  

monkeychan

I would be very interested to know if Apple will still be able to keep WeChat available in the Chinese App Store or will the the ban only apply to the US App Store.

If WeChat has to be removed fro the China Store it's going to completely decimate future iPhone sales in China. WeChat has close to 900 million users in China alone and from what i understand is pretty much an essential app if you live there. If you can't get the app for the iPhone then virtually no-one is going to be buying iPhones in China anymore.

georgebmac

rotateleftbyte said:

TikTok must be the perfect platform for his soundbites. Most of what he says is complete and utter rubbish but every so often he comes out with a bit of gold. Such as 'We are gonna build that wall and Mexico is gonna pay for it!'.

Yes, and there you have it.

After TikTok users humiliated him in Tulsa by getting him to claim tens of thousands would be attending his rally when only a few showed up (reminiscent of his humiliation during his inauguration) Trump realized he had to silence these American user of TikTok by removing their platform.

While condemning Chinese censorship, Trump wants to do the same here in U.S. by silencing all means of dissent or disagreement and have the American people get their news and information from right wing propaganda outlets such as FauxNews (providing they toe his line).   It's been a favorite tactic of despots since time began.

We saw it first in his ongoing false claims of "FakeNews" of any media outlet who he thinks makes him look bad (even if what they publish is true and accurate).  More recently it has been intimidation of outlets like FaceBook to allow him to publish lies and fake videos of his political opponents.

Now we see him suppressing an outlet favored by many young, liberal Americans 100 days before his re-election attempt.

Trump claims he is protecting America

Trump is actually protecting himself and his re-election chances while undermining American democracy.

So, where are all his flag waving, "U S A !" chanting, sycophants now?   Oh yeh!   Making excuses, marginalizing and spreading doubt and confusion.

razorpit

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Ya, out of everything that can possibly be done to China TikTok is the best plan of attack. To paraphrased, common man!    

Peza said:

According to this article:

http://www.macrumors.com/2020/08/07/trump-bans-us-business-tencent-bytedance/

The ban he has signed also includes Tencent, which make and run the official Call Of Duty and PUBG mobile games... so how does what he has done affect those two incredibly popular worldwide games? 

Personally I don’t think he has a leg to stand on and is the worst most arrogant idiot leader that’s ever existed. He hasn’t caused a war, yet, or genocide, but he’s pretty much done everything else it seems including his quote, we have nukes why can’t we use them?
And he has definitely caused a trade war.

I look forward to another 4 years if his disastrous leadership as no doubt he will be voted back in.
I also look forward to the response on this from Apple and Microsoft as I believe both were said to be interested in buying TikTok.

Your reputation America is sinking faster and faster, and it’ll probably take you a very long time to recover.

We’ve been in a trade war for decades but prior administrations refused to identify it as such. The democrats banned TikTok before the president did. What say you on that? Obama has started far more physical confrontations in his term than Trump yet you want to project Trump as some kind of war monger. America is waking up and becoming stronger, sorry you don’t like that.

markbyrn said:

Not mentioned of course is the fact that China has long banned all Google apps, Twitter, Facebook,, etc.  This order should have come long ago and strictly as a matter of reciprocity.  

Yep, never hear that mentioned in any of these articles. Although the cesspool those platforms have become, China might be on to something. Maybe we do need to follow their lead on some things. 

[deleted user]

markbyrn said:

Not mentioned of course is the fact that China has long banned all Google apps, Twitter, Facebook,, etc.  This order should have come long ago and strictly as a matter of reciprocity.  

"But they started it." Is really bad policy unless maybe you are talking about an elementary school playground. Other rules that probably shouldn't be carried into U.S. policy are "I'm rubber your glue ....", "He who smelt it, dealt it" and "I know you are but what am I?". There is no harm in being the adult in the room. 

spamsandwich

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Thanks for more Chinese propaganda. We have this thing sewn up. China’s influence over the US is being severed... one gigantic tentacle at a time.

avon b7

SpamSandwich said:

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Thanks for more Chinese propaganda. We have this thing sewn up. China’s influence over the US is being severed... one gigantic tentacle at a time.

But at the same time, with each tentacle, Trump shoots himself in the foot (often with an accompany tweet that reveals what's going on in his head). 

It's only a question of time before he shoots himself in the figurative head. He is also causing enormous friction with US allies.

Let's not forget the trade war isn't (and not by a long shot) a China trade war.

The US trade deficit is not only with China but with the world. The world knows that if he wangles something with China, focus will switch to other areas like the EU and that is why the EU is proactively taking action to protect itself from what the US is trying to do to China.

spamsandwich

avon b7 said:

SpamSandwich said:

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Thanks for more Chinese propaganda. We have this thing sewn up. China’s influence over the US is being severed... one gigantic tentacle at a time.

But at the same time, with each tentacle, Trump shoots himself in the foot (often with an accompany tweet that reveals what's going on in his head). 

It's only a question of time before he shoots himself in the figurative head. He is also causing enormous friction with US allies.

Let's not forget the trade war isn't (and not by a long shot) a China trade war.

The US trade deficit is not only with China but with the world. The world knows that if he wangles something with China, focus will switch to other areas like the EU and that is why the EU is proactively taking action to protect itself from what the US is trying to do to China.

I’m perfectly OK with a full decoupling of the US from China.

tzeshan

SpamSandwich said:

avon b7 said:

SpamSandwich said:

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Thanks for more Chinese propaganda. We have this thing sewn up. China’s influence over the US is being severed... one gigantic tentacle at a time.

But at the same time, with each tentacle, Trump shoots himself in the foot (often with an accompany tweet that reveals what's going on in his head). 

It's only a question of time before he shoots himself in the figurative head. He is also causing enormous friction with US allies.

Let's not forget the trade war isn't (and not by a long shot) a China trade war.

The US trade deficit is not only with China but with the world. The world knows that if he wangles something with China, focus will switch to other areas like the EU and that is why the EU is proactively taking action to protect itself from what the US is trying to do to China.

I’m perfectly OK with a full decoupling of the US from China.

You are number one China hater on AI. I will not forget. 

johnbear

seanismorris said:

President Trump had little understanding about what was important in the negotiations of trade agreements with China.  Rather than focus on what was important, mainly protecting IP, and opening markets, he went off the rails and demanded China purchase more food from USA.

His bumbling negotiations made everything worse (as usual) and here we are, attempting to “look strong” on China to improve his election chances.  He’s targeting TikTok specifically because young people (Americans) on TikTok hate his guts, and successfully interfered with a rally. 

 Is this related to a risk to Americans? Nope.  It’s fear of young people interfering with the election.  Since they don’t have a vote, TikTok (and other apps like it) give them a voice.

Bottom line, if TikTok was a real threat they could have audited the code, and not just banned it.  Trump has no idea what he’s doing.  If they disliked him before, now he’s pissed them off.  Who’s pissed?  Millions of young tech savvy Americans with to much free time on their hands (exacerbated by the coronavirus). This is going to blow up in his face... What a fool!

Exactly, Trump & Peter Navarro went off the rails. 

Trump is retaliating on his failed Tulsa rally. 

He’s certainly losing more millions votes from TikTok users. These young people will find other ways to troll him. 

edited August 2020

hammeroftruth

SpamSandwich said:

avon b7 said:

SpamSandwich said:

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Thanks for more Chinese propaganda. We have this thing sewn up. China’s influence over the US is being severed... one gigantic tentacle at a time.

But at the same time, with each tentacle, Trump shoots himself in the foot (often with an accompany tweet that reveals what's going on in his head). 

It's only a question of time before he shoots himself in the figurative head. He is also causing enormous friction with US allies.

Let's not forget the trade war isn't (and not by a long shot) a China trade war.

The US trade deficit is not only with China but with the world. The world knows that if he wangles something with China, focus will switch to other areas like the EU and that is why the EU is proactively taking action to protect itself from what the US is trying to do to China.

I’m perfectly OK with a full decoupling of the US from China.

That probably will never happen unless we can come up with the 1.1 trillion we owe them and then figure out what we will do about manufacturing. 

We screwed ourselves when we moved industrial manufacturing to China and they made an infrastructure that can make anything quickly, but has virtually no long term durability to keep costs low. 

Maybe if we spent more time working together to be less reliant on China instead of fighting each other, we would have started the framework of divesting from China.  Both parties thought moving to China was a good idea and nobody ever thought that a foreign country would buy up American t-bills, notes and bonds and weaponize them.

The real tragedy is the truth that our government both left and right can give 2 shits about our people who are barely holding on in this pandemic. They cannot come up with just a basic plan to help those who are on their last leg and are about to be starving and homeless. 

They just want your vote to keep their place in line to get their special interest money. That’s why you won’t see any help until we are almost near Election Day and they can spin it towards their advantage. 

tzeshan

hammeroftruth said:

SpamSandwich said:

avon b7 said:

SpamSandwich said:

Ciprol said:

Never forget that Trump at a previous face to face meeting with Xi of China, asked Xi's help in keeping him elected but Xi refused (see John Bolton's disclosure). These are now the payback against China. As a US commentator said, this is a classic mafia tactic. US's global reputation has just gone down another major tier.

Thanks for more Chinese propaganda. We have this thing sewn up. China’s influence over the US is being severed... one gigantic tentacle at a time.

But at the same time, with each tentacle, Trump shoots himself in the foot (often with an accompany tweet that reveals what's going on in his head). 

It's only a question of time before he shoots himself in the figurative head. He is also causing enormous friction with US allies.

Let's not forget the trade war isn't (and not by a long shot) a China trade war.

The US trade deficit is not only with China but with the world. The world knows that if he wangles something with China, focus will switch to other areas like the EU and that is why the EU is proactively taking action to protect itself from what the US is trying to do to China.

I’m perfectly OK with a full decoupling of the US from China.

That probably will never happen unless we can come up with the 1.1 trillion we owe them and then figure out what we will do about manufacturing. 

We screwed ourselves when we moved industrial manufacturing to China and they made an infrastructure that can make anything quickly, but has virtually no long term durability to keep costs low. 

Maybe if we spent more time working together to be less reliant on China instead of fighting each other, we would have started the framework of divesting from China.  Both parties thought moving to China was a good idea and nobody ever thought that a foreign country would buy up American t-bills, notes and bonds and weaponize them.

The real tragedy is the truth that our government both left and right can give 2 shits about our people who are barely holding on in this pandemic. They cannot come up with just a basic plan to help those who are on their last leg and are about to be starving and homeless. 

They just want your vote to keep their place in line to get their special interest money. That’s why you won’t see any help until we are almost near Election Day and they can spin it towards their advantage. 

This kind of reasoning is stupid. US has many trading partners including Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. Single out China alone for the ills of US will never solver the problem. 

spamsandwich

johnbear said:

seanismorris said:

President Trump had little understanding about what was important in the negotiations of trade agreements with China.  Rather than focus on what was important, mainly protecting IP, and opening markets, he went off the rails and demanded China purchase more food from USA.

His bumbling negotiations made everything worse (as usual) and here we are, attempting to “look strong” on China to improve his election chances.  He’s targeting TikTok specifically because young people (Americans) on TikTok hate his guts, and successfully interfered with a rally. 

 Is this related to a risk to Americans? Nope.  It’s fear of young people interfering with the election.  Since they don’t have a vote, TikTok (and other apps like it) give them a voice.

Bottom line, if TikTok was a real threat they could have audited the code, and not just banned it.  Trump has no idea what he’s doing.  If they disliked him before, now he’s pissed them off.  Who’s pissed?  Millions of young tech savvy Americans with to much free time on their hands (exacerbated by the coronavirus). This is going to blow up in his face... What a fool!

Exactly, Trump & Peter Navarro went off the rails. 

Trump is retaliating on his failed Tulsa rally. 

He’s certainly losing more millions votes from TikTok users. These young people will find other ways to troll him. 

Young people are not in a position to be dictating policy. They don’t even have fully developed brains. Who cares what they think?