Trump vows to ban Chinese-owned TikTok from the US - Sky News

Donald Trump has vowed to ban Chinese video-sharing app TikTok from operating in the US.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the president said: "As far as TikTok is concerned, we're banning them from the United States."

He did not specify how he intended to achieve what he described as a "severance", but he could do it through executive action as early as this weekend.

"Well, I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that," he said.

Image: President Donald Trump says he will ban TikTok from the US

The words are the latest in the administration's increasingly belligerent tone towards China and its technology companies.

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They came after Mr Trump signed an order forcing Beijing-based owner ByteDance to sell the US portion of social network TikTok due to national security concerns, according to a report in The Washington Post.

Microsoft is understood to be in the lead to acquire the platform's US service but would not comment.

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TikTok said: "While we do not comment on rumours or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok."

ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017 as a competitor to Facebook and Snap and it has grown in popularity, hitting two billion downloads during April.

But the firm's rise - along with the deteriorating relationship between the US and China - has prompted US government scrutiny.

The US has long accused China of intellectual property theft which costs billions of dollars and thousands of jobs, something Beijing denies.

The other main concern is national security, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo having previously described Chinese state-backed tech companies as "Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence".

US military personnel have also been discouraged from using Chinese technology because of the security fears.

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2020-08-01 05:04:01Z
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Donald Trump humiliation: US President mocked as ‘tiny’ crowd gathers for Florida speech - Daily Express

Photographs from the scene showed a large pen had been prepared for Trump supporters, complete with barriers for social distancing, but it was predominantly empty. Several hundred Trump supporters did congregate at the front of the barriers where they listened to the president.

However, they failed to maintain social distance sparking a rebuke from an organiser over the loudspeaker system.

According to CNN the organiser said: “Ladies and gentlemen, we do ask that you maintain social distance during this event.

“There's plenty of space for everyone.”

Trump spoke alongside a number of Florida sheriffs at the mini rally.

Neither the president, nor most of the audience, were wearing masks to guard against COVID-19.

Mr Trump used the address to praise US police and claim they would be downgraded under a Democratic presidency.

Referring to sheriffs around his podium Trump joked: “I wanted to hug them and kiss them.

“Maybe in 90 days.”

READ MORE: China warned Donald Trump prepared to cut all ties with Beijing

Following Mr Floyd’s death ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests spread across the United States and even internationally.

Violent clashes broke out with police during these demonstrations in a number of cities.

Mr Trump was mocked by a number of Twitter users over the low turnout for his speech.

One posted: “Wow, even in Florida President Trump can’t even fill the bike stands.”

Another added: “Trump has a tiny little crowd in Florida and they aren’t social distancing or wearing masks. Shameful!”

After his speech Mr Trump tweeted: “I am thrilled to be back in my home state of Florida and honoured to receive the endorsement of dozens of incredible Florida Sheriffs.”

Earlier this week Mr Trump caused outrage by suggesting the November presidential election could be delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The idea was rejected by Democrat and Republican leaders in Congress.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, gave his reaction to local Kentucky station WNKY.

He said: “Never in the history of this country, through wars, depressions and the Civil War, have we ever not had a federally scheduled election on time.

“We will find a way to do that again this November third.”

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2020-08-01 00:39:40Z
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