Haley criticizes Ramaswamy’s TikTok stance.

Republican Contender Nikki Haley Slams Rival Vivek Ramaswamy Over⁣ TikTok Presence

During‌ the second GOP‍ presidential primary debate on September ​27, Republican candidate Nikki Haley⁢ fiercely criticized her opponent Vivek Ramaswamy for being on⁢ TikTok. ‍The ​Chinese video-sharing app has faced scrutiny ⁣for its potential as a tool ⁤for espionage ⁤by Beijing. The debate took place at the‌ Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Ramaswamy is the only⁣ 2024 ⁤candidate who has joined TikTok so far. Just days before joining, he had condemned the platform for aiding Beijing ⁣in spreading “digital fentanyl” to Americans. The 38-year-old ⁤entrepreneur credited YouTube‌ influencer and boxer Jake Paul‍ for ⁢changing his mind, arguing that TikTok is ‌crucial for reaching out to young ⁣people.

When confronted by a moderator about whether a commander-in-chief should be easily influenced by an influencer, Ramaswamy responded with a “radical idea for the Republican Party.”

Related Stories

‘TikTok Is Built Like an Indoctrination Machine’: GOP Senator Sounds Alarm on App’s Impact on American Youth

7/31/2023

Lawmakers Raise‍ Alarm Over TikTok’s ⁢Potential to Flood US‍ Market With Slave⁤ Labor Goods

7/31/2023

“We need ⁣to win elections. ⁣And part of how ⁤we win elections ⁢is reaching ⁤the next generation​ of young Americans where they are,” Ramaswamy declared. “While the Democrats are dominating in reaching the ​next generation, there’s only one person ⁤in the ​Republican Party ​who talks about reaching young people, and that’s me.”

Ramaswamy’s response sparked‍ disapproval from the debate stage.

“TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media ⁢apps we could have,” Haley retorted,‍ drawing chuckles from the crowd. “Every time I hear you, ⁢I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

“Because I ‍can’t believe—they hear you got a TikTok situation, what they’re doing is ⁢these 150 million⁢ people are on TikTok,⁣ that means they can get your ⁤contacts, they can get your financial information, they can get your‍ emails, they can get your text messages, China knows exactly what⁣ they’re doing.

“We can’t trust you.”

TikTok, owned by Beijing-based tech ​giant ByteDance, has been banned ​from government‍ devices in several countries, including the⁢ United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and the European Union, due to national security concerns.

While‌ TikTok’s executives have downplayed its links to China,⁤ the app has aligned​ with the regime’s talking points. TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew has been reluctant to acknowledge human rights‌ abuses against Uyghurs in China’s ‍Xinjiang region.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have expressed concerns about TikTok potentially sharing U.S. user data with Chinese‌ authorities. The app’s⁤ addictive⁢ nature, ‍driven by its algorithm that tailors content to user behavior, has also raised alarms.

Ramaswamy, without addressing the ⁤security ‌concerns, proposed banning anyone‍ under 16 from using “addictive social‌ media.”

“This isn’t Republican or Democrat, but if you’re 16 years old or under, you should not⁢ be using an addictive ‍social ⁣media ‌product, period,” he stated. “We can ⁣prioritize the mental health of this country while ⁤combating the fentanyl epidemic.”

Ramaswamy’s deputy communications director, Stefan Mychajliw, emphasized the need​ to⁣ reach the youth vote. “These‌ are the rules ‍of the game:‍ Vivek Ramaswamy ​does not make them; ‌we need​ to reach the⁢ youth​ vote,” he explained.

Chris Grant, senior adviser⁤ to Ramaswamy’s​ campaign, echoed this sentiment and dismissed Haley as a threat. “We don’t spend a lot of time‍ thinking about Nikki Haley,” Grant said. “Nikki⁣ Haley‍ clearly spends a⁣ lot of time thinking ‍and getting angry about Vivek Ramaswamy.”

Despite the negative perception of TikTok during the debate, ⁢the app made its presence felt ⁣through TV advertisements that highlighted success stories of TikTok users. These ads aired multiple times on Fox Business during the debate.

Janice Hisle and Nathan Worcester contributed to this report.

A powerful tool ​for political campaigns, and reaching younger audiences​ can be crucial for electoral ‌success

Ion. Additionally, the app has been‍ accused ⁢of censoring content that is critical of the ⁤Chinese government,​ further raising concerns ‌about user privacy and freedom of speech.