House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will vigorously press the Senate to approve a bipartisan bill targeting TikTok.
The bill, which would force the Chinese company ByteDance to withdraw from social media apps or be completely banned, easily passed the House yesterday on a bipartisan vote of 352-65.
The bill’s future in the Senate is unclear, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not committed to the idea of considering it.
50 Democrats and 15 Republicans vote “no” on bill aimed at blocking TikTok
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (center) from Louisiana walks through Statuary Hall during voting at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Let’s see what the House does,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday before the House passed the bill. “We need and will consult with the chairs of the relevant committees to find out what their views are.”
The overwhelming bipartisan support for the bill so far will make it difficult for Schumer and other senators to ignore.
“We’re going to put as much pressure as we can because we think it’s the right thing to do,” Johnson told the New York Post just hours after the successful vote.
In defiance of Trump, domestic Republicans plan to push TikTok bill that could ban the app
This photo illustration shows the TikTok app download page on an Apple iPhone in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
President Biden has publicly said he will sign the proposed TikTok divestment bill once it reaches his desk.
By contrast, former President Donald Trump completely upended the perception of apps since his time in the Oval Office, shocking both parties. He urged opposition to the bill, arguing it would only give more power to other tech giants such as Facebook.
The bill was sponsored in the House by House China Select Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Participants hold signs supporting TikTok outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Critics of TikTok have long warned that the social media app poses a national security threat. Lawmakers have raised concerns about the Chinese government’s ability to use its power over ByteDance to access sensitive user data.
China hawks also warn that the app is gaining popularity among young Americans and is giving the ruling Chinese Communist Party a platform for a massive influence campaign.
