Rep. Mike Turner, former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, reiterated on Sunday that TikTok “remains a national security threat” despite recent efforts by President Trump to preserve access to the widely popular video-sharing platform.
“Let’s be clear. TikTok is absolutely a national security threat,” Turner stated during an appearance on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.
TikTok temporarily suspended its services in the U.S. last week due to a divestment deadline imposed on its China-based parent company, ByteDance. However, the platform quickly restored access after President Trump intervened. On Monday, the newly inaugurated president signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the law, which had recently been upheld by the Supreme Court, for 75 days.
Turner, a Republican from Ohio, emphasized the rationale behind the law, which was passed by Congress and signed by former President Joe Biden. The legislation required ByteDance to divest from TikTok by January 19 or face removal from U.S. app stores. Turner identified two primary national security risks posed by TikTok: “its access to data and its ability to use itself as a propaganda tool.”
“The only thing that would protect the United States and protect our citizens is divestiture,” Turner asserted, adding, “The law that is the law of the land says that ByteDance needs to divest itself.”
Reports in recent days have suggested that the president is working on a potential deal to secure TikTok’s future through a sale. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump acknowledged ongoing discussions. “Numerous people” are in talks with him about acquiring TikTok, he said, adding that he would make a decision within the next 30 days.
“If we can save TikTok, I think it would be a good thing,” Trump remarked, citing his “warm spot” for the app and its popularity among young people.
When asked about the prospect of a deal, Turner expressed cautious optimism. “We certainly hope that he gets a deal that recognizes the issue of national security,” Turner said. “There is no role in which they [TikTok] can remain active, in which China can have access to this data.”
Turner’s comments also follow his recent removal as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee by Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this month. Turner has claimed that his dismissal was linked to “concerns from Mar-a-Lago,” though Johnson has denied this.
On Sunday, Turner revealed that he had communicated with the president’s team and was informed that “that was not the case.”
“The one thing that [Speaker Johnson] has said is that he wanted to take the committee in a different direction,” Turner noted. He also expressed concerns that the new direction might prioritize investigating “the elusive Deep State” over addressing pressing national security issues.
