Fox’s Kayleigh McEnany Blasts TikTok as a ‘National Security Threat’ After Trump Backs App
Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany labeled TikTok a “national security” threat after the House passed the bill aimed at forcing a Chinese company to either divest from the social media app or face a ban in the U.S.
On Wednesday morning, the House passed a bill to force ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok within six months or be banned from operating in the U.S.
McEnany praised the bipartisan decision by the House, claiming on Outnumbered that “both parties” know that the social media app has “immense political power” to shape the minds of young children.
The former White House press secretary then cited comments by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who accused the app of helping undocumented migrants cross the border. She added:
TikTok is a national security threat, and TikTok has immense political power and persuasion. This is all part of a China influence campaign. You see this? The secret police stations, the Confucius Institutes, TikTok. This is a national security threat. And look at the way TikTok frames huge events in our country.
I just spoke with Senator Josh Hawley, who said to me, you know, one of the ways illegal immigrants are coming across the southern border is via TikTok. TikTok is a part of that equation…So TikTok is shaping national security events. It’s shaping the minds of young children, but it has immense political power, and both parties know that.
Her comments come after her former White House boss and Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, came out against banning the app by claiming it would empower Facebook, who he called the “enemy of the people.”
In 2020, Trump was a major advocate for banning TikTok and used “emergency powers” to target ByteDance. During his presidency, he signed an executive order barring U.S. companies from completing transactions with the TikTok owner.
Watch the clip above via Fox News.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited to better reflect that Sen. Hawley accused TikTok of aiding migrants across the southern border, not McEnany.
