POLITICO Nightly: Trump’s TikTok trap

By Ali Bianco Presented by American Edge Project TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard attend the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the Capitol. | Pool photo by Kevin Lamarque. VIBE CHECK — A ban on TikTok in the United States took effect late Saturday night, but service wasn’t even suspended for a full day before it came back online. When the social media platform returned Sunday morning, it included a pop up message for users who opened the app: “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” Donald Trump, of course, was not technically president yet. But on Monday, he fulfilled a promise to maintain service, signing an executive order that delays enforcement of the ban for 75 days, giving his administration “an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security.” Now comes the hard part. Trump continues to insist that he’d like to see the company sold off — and suggested at a press conference this afternoon he would be open to tech billionaires Elon Musk or Larry Ellison buying it. To get his deal, though, Trump will need to play ball with China. The app is currently owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance, which has made lawmakers concerned that TikTok’s data could be used by the Chinese government or the app’s algorithm could be manipulated. Trump has taken a circuitous route to his current position. During his first term, he came out in favor of a ban or sale. But following the 2024 election, Trump changed his tune. “I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok I didn’t have originally,” Trump said at a press conference on Monday night. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew even got a prime seat at Trump’s inauguration and dined with him in December. But how much Trump is willing to work with China to get a deal done — and how much both the Chinese government and ByteDance want to work with him — remains an open question. To better understand this rapidly evolving story, Nightly spoke with Phelim Kine, who writes the newsletter China Watcher for POLITICO . The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity. TikTok went dark for a short period and then came back online in the U.S. this weekend — all in the span of around 12 hours. Why did Congress pass a law declaring TikTok a threat to national security in the first place?  Congress saw a clear and present danger in TikTok’s access — or more specifically its Beijing-based parent firm ByteDance —to the data of its 170-million subscribers in the U.S. That’s because China’s national security laws obligate Chinese companies to obey the diktat of the country’s security agencies, including demands for access to private data. TikTok should have gone dark and stayed that way on Sunday because ByteDance had failed to meet the law’s condition for continuing operations — sale to a non-Chinese buyer by Jan. 19. That didn’t happen because President Trump has thrown the company a lifeline via an executive order on Monday that gives the firm 75 days to work with his administration to “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform” popular in the U.S. How does the temporary reprieve on the ban impact America’s relationship with China?  The stalemate in the legally-dictated pause on TikTok’s phase-out in the U.S. market is a win for Beijing in its protection of an app that former FBI Director Chris Wray described as a possible tool for Chinese government “influence operations” in 2022. TikTok’s 75-day reprieve under Trump’s executive order allows Beijing to switch the framing of the rationale behind Congress’ move to force TikTok’s sale or face closure to a political vendetta against a private company China’s Foreign Ministry said today was “boosting U.S. employment and consumption.” The next 75 days will be a showdown between national security concerns and the desire of TikTok users — including Trump — to keep TikTok in business. In response to a feared TikTok ban, many American users started flocking to an app called RedNote, an app that has ironically made Americans much more directly exposed to China’s culture. How is RedNote regulated in China, and what are some of the implications of Americans on the platform?  The shift of so-called “TikTok refugees” to RedNote creates the same national security risks as those posed by TikTok. RedNote — whose Chinese name translates as “Little Red Book” in reference to the Chinese Communist Party’s canonical collection of quotes by former leader Mao Zedong — is owned by Shanghai-based Xingyin Information Technology Ltd. That makes U.S. users of RedNote vulnerable to the same risks of data insecurity as TikTok users. But the influx of U.S. users to the Mandarin Chinese-dominant RedNote platform has caused headaches for Chinese censors suddenly grappling with English-language content on the platform that violates Beijing’s censorship rules. President Trump — who initially supported banning TikTok — said he would intervene in the ban and push to delay it by 75 days. You’ve reported that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about this TikTok drama. What came out of that call? The executive order Trump issued on Monday buys TikTok — and the Trump administration — 75 days to come to a mutually acceptable resolution that will allow the app to continue to operate in the U.S. TikTok was one of the key talking points of Trump’s call to Xi last week — he put it up there with “fentanyl” and “trade” as one of the three key concerns vexing the U.S.-China relationship in a post-call Truth Social post. But Trump gave no details of that discussion with Xi. And there was zero mention of TikTok in the Chinese Foreign Ministry readout of the call. So we’re left guessing whether there are some back-channel leader-to-leader discussions about TikTok’s future. Trump insists he wants to slap tariffs on Chinese imports. But he’s been open about working with China on the TikTok response. Is this mixed messaging? What does this tell you about how Trump is thinking about China in his second term? Trump’s governance style — and his approach to foreign relations — is fundamentally transactional. He’s geared to seeking deals that allow him to claim a win for himself personally, his administration and thirdly the American people. It’s worth noting that Trump has so far held off on imposing his threatened tariffs on China, has invested political capital to try to keep TikTok online in the U.S and told Xi last week — if we trust the Chinese Foreign Ministry readout — that he wants to meet the Chinese leader “as soon as possible.” All these data points suggest that Trump is angling for some kind of a potential “grand bargain” with Xi that could address multiple bilateral friction points in one deal. Stay tuned. What about Elon Musk? He’s cut a high profile with his comments; then came a report that China might consider selling to him since it considers him an “ally.” But then TikTok seemed to knock that down . Is there any reason to think China might be ok with Musk buying it? What is his relationship with China? Elon Musk has massive investments in China through his ownership of Tesla which produces its trademark electrical vehicles in China for the domestic market. That gives Beijing leverage over Musk given its history of punishing foreign firms perceived as challenging Chinese policy or narratives . U.S. national security experts say that Musk’s ties to Beijing go deeper than just his commercial interests. Musk is “compromised and co-opted by the Chinese…a Chinese sympathizer of high order,” Ret. Adm. Mike Studeman, former commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, told POLITICO. But for Beijing the prospect of submitting to U.S. law and turning over ownership of TikTok to a foreign owner — even one as potentially friendly to Chinese interests as Musk — would be a bitter pill to swallow and no sure thing at any price. At the end of the day this is a social media app — but could this issue bleed into other aspects of U.S.-China policy? This issue has already bled into U.S.-China policy by underscoring for an already China-hawkish Congress how even something as seemingly benign as a social media app with content hinged to bad dance moves, fitness advice and pranks can have serious national security implications. TikTok has united lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in a recognition of the multi-threat nature of the Chinese national security threat and the need for coordinated bipartisan action to counter it. How the Trump administration honors or aborts the law that requires TikTok’s phase-out in the U.S. could have profound implications for other legislation aimed at fortifying the U.S. against other potential risks that China poses to the U.S. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at abianco@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @_alibianco .   A message from American Edge Project: New Poll: Voters continue to worry about technological threats from foreign adversaries, namely China, and see U.S. tech as part of the solution to their national security concerns. They also want policymakers to take steps to ensure the U.S. remains a global tech leader – for example, by encouraging U.S. tech innovations and open-source AI models. See the findings of our voter priorities survey.   What'd I Miss? ****CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE**** — DOJ can’t show Jack Smith’s report on Trump classified docs case to lawmakers, Cannon rules: A federal judge has blocked the Justice Department from showing selected lawmakers portions of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on the classified documents case against Donald Trump. In a 14-page order today, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, said there is no legal basis for the department to confidentially share the report with leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Cannon’s ruling could make it easier for the Trump administration to bury the report, which recounts Smith’s investigation into the classified records that Trump stored at his Mar-a-Lago home after his first term and his alleged attempt to obstruct efforts to retrieve them. ****RECESS APPOINTMENTS TO AVOID SSCRUTINY**** — Trump pushes Hill GOP on recess appointments, debt limit: President Donald Trump prodded congressional leaders to consider recess appointments for his top nominees and expressed interest in trading California wildfire aid for a debt limit increase in a White House meeting today — resurfacing two controversial proposals floated during the returning president’s transition. The discussions, which were described by two people granted anonymity to describe the private talks, also touched on his proposal to exempt at least some tip income from federal taxes and his efforts more generally to extend tax cuts. Trump’s controversial pardons of Jan. 6 riot offenders did not come up, Speaker Mike Johnson said in an interview after the meeting. ****PETE HEGSETH DOMESTIC ABUSE***** — Senate learns of new allegations against Hegseth: Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, in an affidavit given to senators today, alleged that the Pentagon chief pick caused his second wife to fear for her safety . Danielle Hegseth, who was married to the former Fox News host’s brother for eight years, said that Pete Hegseth’s second wife, Samantha Hegseth, once hid herself in a closet because she was scared of her husband’s actions. The affidavit, which was sent in response to a request by Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was first reported by NBC News. It’s the latest in a string of allegations against Hegseth — who has denied any wrongdoing — and is likely to intensify arguments from Democrats that he’s unfit to hold the Pentagon’s top job.   Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today .     THE NEW ADMINISTRATION Former Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan testifies during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee oversight hearing in 2024 about sexual assaults in the Coast Guard. | Mariam Zuhaib/AP ****QUESTIONABLE TIMING!***** FIRED — Homeland Security officials have removed Adm. Linda Fagan from her role as the Coast Guard’s commandant , according to a note sent to service members — the first firing of a top military officer under the Trump administration. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman, in his message, said Fagan had been relieved and Adm. Kevin E. Lunday would become the service’s acting commandant. The note didn’t give a reason for the dismissal. But a senior DHS official said Fagan was removed for failing to address border threats, allowing delays and cost overruns in the Coast Guard’s icebreaker and helicopter programs, and putting an “excessive focus” on diversity and inclusion efforts that diverted “resources and attention from operational imperatives.” THE SLOG AHEAD — Democrats let Secretary of State Marco Rubio blitz to Senate confirmation Monday. Now it’s time for trench warfare. With Donald Trump’s nominees slowly emerging from Senate committees, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are preparing for a weekslong slog as Democrats force Republicans to work through procedural obstacles to fill out the new president’s Cabinet. CIA director pick John Ratcliffe got a relatively smooth bipartisan confirmation today. But after that, more controversial nominees await, and cooperation could be hard to come by. Accelerating any confirmation will require unanimous agreement from senators, and after letting Rubio through, Democrats are not eager to ease the way for many other Trump picks. GOP PARDON ANGST — Several Republican senators are roundly criticizing President Donald Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6 rioters — particularly those convicted of violent crimes, like assaulting law enforcement officers. “I’m disappointed to see that and I do fear the message that is sent to these brave men and women that stood by us,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) echoed that sentiment, saying there was a difference between those “caught up in the crowd who did not commit a violent act” and those who committed violent crimes, like destroying property or assaulting officers, who should not be pardoned. Many of the Republicans expressing dismay at Trump’s actions were the usual suspects — more centrist senators and those who had voted to convict Trump during an impeachment trial over his role in stoking the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. But more mainstream Republicans also made clear that they were unhappy, like Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota saying he would "not defend" Trump’s decision.  MAGA GOP CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENCE!  TRUMP PARDONED JAN 6 CAPITOL RIOTERS, MANY WITH PREVIOUS VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORIES, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO BRUTALLY ATTACKED OFFICERS - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!  Several were quick to also condemn the actions of former President Joe Biden, who had given preemptive pardons to his own family members shortly before he left office. PAYBACK — Former national security adviser John Bolton said today that Donald Trump had revoked the government security detail he receives to thwart threats against his life from Iran-backed assassins . “I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service,” Bolton said in a post on X. Bolton, who frequently stakes out hawkish views about Iran, has had a 24/7 security detail from the Secret Service since December 2021. The Justice Department has said that during that time a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard attempted to hire a hitman in the United States to take him out. In the post, Bolton said the threat against him from Iran “remains today,” evidenced in part by a foiled plot this summer by Iranian operatives to kill Trump himself.   A message from American Edge Project:   AROUND THE WORLD ‘WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE’ — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada can help President Donald Trump achieve his promise of a new “golden age” for America. However, he warned, if the U.S. president imposes tariffs, Ottawa will punch back . “We know that if the United States is going to see an increase in jobs, manufacturing and economic growth, they’re going to require more energy, more inputs, everything from lumber and concrete to steel and aluminum to critical minerals that are the essential ingredients in the economy of the future,” Trudeau said this morning. Canada’s prime minister said he supports the idea of dollar-for-dollar matching tariffs. GO IT ALONE — The EU is in no mood to beg for favorable treatment in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. Instead, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today mapped out an upbeat vision of the EU as an economic heavyweight that was beating the U.S. in many key respects and was open for business with countries such as Mexico and China — while Trump sets himself on a collision course with those nations. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in her first major policy address since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration for a second term, von der Leyen avoided direct criticism of the president but drew clear and stark contrasts with America, especially by underlining the EU’s commitment to the Paris climate pact that Washington is ditching. FEELING FURIOUS — Europe’s left-wingers today raced to condemn Elon Musk after the world’s richest man performed a stiff-armed salute at an event to celebrate new United States President Donald Trump. “I will start by talking about the response, or perhaps the lack of responses of the EU to Trump’s inauguration. It represents a threat to the whole of the European Union,” said French member of the European Parliament Manon Aubry, co-chair of The Left group, at a press conference this morning. “Let’s start by keeping things simple, I am sure everyone saw the Nazi salute, I select these words carefully, the Nazi salute of Elon Musk.” In Germany, where Musk’s political backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany has already caused issues ahead of a snap election on Feb. 23, the government hit out over the controversial salute. “I definitely don’t think highly of Elon Musk as a politician, from what we know so far. But such a gesture, given his already known proximity to right-wing populists in the fascist tradition, must worry every democrat,” said German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach from the center-left Social Democratic Party.   New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today .     Nightly Number Over 1,000 The number of presidential appointees that President Donald Trump said he plans to fire “who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again.” RADAR SWEEP SEED OIL SOBER — In early January, the founder of Sweetgreen — the popular American salad chain — announced that his company would no longer use seed oils in their products. The decision was made under the auspices of health, but what exactly are seed oils, and are they really unhealthy for you? The latter is a debate that has been raging for years across the internet , and the idea that seed oils — liquid fats extracted from vegetables that are regularly used in cooking — have negative health effects has increasingly been pushed by prominent voices like Joe Rogan and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who often espouse heterodox health opinions. Now, what was once largely confined to an online debate is having real implications at a national chain. Aimee Levitt reports on the disagreement in The Guardian. Parting Image On this date in 1993: Former President George H.W. Bush arrives with briefcases at his new office building in Houston, Texas, one day after President Bill Clinton's inauguration. | Donna Carson/AP Did someone forward this email to you?  Sign up here .   A message from American Edge Project: American tech innovation, especially in AI, is so important: it drives prosperity, defends our freedom, and ensures America stays on top. To secure our leadership, policymakers must partner with the private sector and champion open- and closed-source AI development, while avoiding misguided regulations that risk weakening us and handing the future to authoritarian regimes. See our voter priorities survey.     Follow us on Twitter Charlie Mahtesian @PoliticoCharlie Calder McHugh @calder_mchugh   Follow us

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