Washington, July 28 (V7N) — U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a positive view of TikTok, the popular short-video app with approximately 170 million American users. However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized on Sunday that the Chinese-owned platform must transfer to U.S. ownership to continue operating in the country.

Speaking in an interview on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream, Lutnick explained that while the President appreciates TikTok as a communication tool for young people, national security concerns require that the app be controlled by American interests.

“The President really likes TikTok, and he has said so repeatedly because it’s a great way to connect with young audiences,” Lutnick said. “But let’s be clear: having a Chinese-owned app on over 100 million American phones is unacceptable. TikTok must transition to American ownership, American technology, and American algorithms.”

He added, “The President is positive about TikTok if it can be brought under American control.”

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has faced growing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and officials concerned about data privacy and potential influence by the Chinese government. Discussions over the app’s future in the United States have intensified amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The Trump administration has called for a sale or restructuring of TikTok’s U.S. operations to ensure data security and protect user privacy. Negotiations with potential American buyers and regulatory reviews remain ongoing.

This stance aligns with broader concerns over foreign-owned digital platforms and their impact on national security, a key issue for many countries worldwide as they regulate technology companies.

END/WD/AJ/