TikTok Hits Back at Trump: We’re Not Going Anywhere

The video sharing app TikTok responded to President Donald Trump’s threats over the weekend. The Chinese company said they had no plans to leave the United States following the President claim that he was banning the app over security concerns.

TikTok spokesperson Vanessa Papas didn’t directly criticize Trump, but TikTok emphasized the app’s popularity.

“We’ve heard your outpouring of support and we want to say thank you. We’re not planning on going anywhere,” Pappas said.

The company later issued a longer statement outlining how many people in the U.S. use the app and even linked its use to stress of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“These are the facts: 100 million Americans come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, especially during the pandemic,” they said. “We’ve hired nearly 1,000 people to our US team this year alone, and are proud to be hiring another 10,000 employees into great paying jobs across the US.”

TikTok defended its handling of data, which has been at the center of Trump’s attacks: “TikTok US user data is stored in the US, with strict controls on employee access. TikTok’s biggest investors come from the US.”

“As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump had told reporters, though it remains to be seen if he has the authority to do so or if he’ll try to follow through.