Trump says Microsoft should Buy TikTok before the Deadline of 15th September

US President Donald Trump has given a deadline of 15^th September for an American company, Microsoft to buy TikTok. Otherwise, the popular Chinese video app will be shut down in the United States. Trump also suggested the US should receive a substantial portion of money in an acquisition deal because the US is making it possible for this deal to happen. He said the deal must be arranged by mid-September when the Chinese app will be out of business in the country. President delivered his words at the White House and said, “It can’t be controlled for security reasons by China. Too big. Too invasive. My personal opinion was you’re probably better off buying the whole thing rather than 30 percent of it”.

Donald Trump also argued that the US should receive money in return because the purchase would send money into China, though it’s unclear how such an arrangement would work. President said, “The United States should be reimbursed or paid a substantial amount of money because without the United States they don’t have anything”. Trump administration officials and both Republican and Democrat legislators have argued the app pose a national security threat by allegedly collecting user data and sharing it with China’s government. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo informed Fox News on Sunday that Trump administration is targeting a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to China following the president’s threat on 31^st July to Ban the app.

Point to be noted that the company has denied the allegations and stressed that its user data is stored in the United States with strict control on employee access. The company also confirmed that it isn’t controlled directly by its parent company in Beijing, Bytedance. The company issued an official statement and said, “We are committed to protecting our users’ privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform”. Microsoft announced in a statement that the company will move quickly to start discussions with the parent company of TikTok, in a matter of weeks and in any event completing these discussions no later than 15^th September 2020.