The Jewish connection: Trump's complicated case with TikTok

While standoffish against the Chinese app in his first run as president, Trump promised to unban the app before his second term; what does a Jewish billionaire have to do with this?

Daniela Ginzburg|
In 2020, during his first term as U.S. president, Donald Trump declared war on TikTok, a Chinese-owned social media app by ByteDance. He accused the platform of allowing the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' private information, including the locations of government employees and federal contractors.
Calling TikTok a national security threat, Trump issued an executive order to ban its operations, warning, "TikTok gives China enormous power over our personal data."
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מטה טיקטוק
מטה טיקטוק
(Photo: Reuters)
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שו זי צ'ו בשימוע בקונגרס
שו זי צ'ו בשימוע בקונגרס
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
Critics argued Trump’s concerns extended beyond security, suggesting he feared TikTok's influence over young American voters. The app was seen not only as a data risk but also as a platform capable of destabilizing U.S. politics.
By 2023, then-president Joe Biden’s administration adopted a similar stance, with bipartisan legislation in April imposing restrictions on foreign-owned companies like TikTok. Despite Trump's initial failed ban attempt, the new law authorized broader measures to limit such platforms' operations due to espionage risks.
In a surprising reversal, Trump joined TikTok in June 2024, making it a central tool in his election campaign. Within three months, he amassed 15 million followers, even declaring on Truth Social, “Vote for me if you want to 'save TikTok.” This marked a dramatic shift from his earlier stance.
Trump also cultivated ties with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, hosting him in Florida and inviting him to official events, including his inauguration. As the new restrictions took effect, Trump announced plans to grant TikTok a reprieve, allowing the platform to resume operations in the U.S. ByteDance swiftly thanked the incoming president.
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ג'פרי יאס
ג'פרי יאס
Jeffrey Yass
(Photo: Reuters)
At the heart of this alliance is Jeffrey Yass, a Jewish billionaire and significant investor in ByteDance. Yass, who amassed his wealth through technology and financial markets, holds substantial stakes in ByteDance and maintains direct ties to Trump.
A major donor to the Republican Party and Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, Yass reportedly brokered talks between Trump and TikTok’s leadership, leveraging the partnership as a rare business opportunity.
However, Yass’s dual roles — investor in ByteDance and backer of Trump — raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest. His influence over the U.S. digital landscape prompts questions about whether American interests truly take priority.
The Trump-TikTok-Yass alliance underscores mutual benefits: Trump uses TikTok for political messaging, while ByteDance secures political and financial support. Yet, this convergence of technology, politics and commerce often sidelines democratic values and public interest.
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שי ג'ינפינג נשיא סין
שי ג'ינפינג נשיא סין
China's President Xi Jingping
(Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/Pool via REUTERS)
Adding complexity, China’s Communist Party looms behind ByteDance, reportedly blocking efforts to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to American entities. While ByteDance denies close ties to Beijing, the Chinese government’s stance complicates claims of independence.
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Even Elon Musk, Trump ally and world’s richest person, criticized the asymmetry: Chinese apps operate freely in the U.S., while American platforms like X are banned in China.
Trump’s dynamic with TikTok reflects a new era where economic alliances and shared interests shape realities for millions, often at the expense of transparency and democracy. The question remains: who’s truly in charge?
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