Former President Donald Trump, known for his self-centric politics, has shown a notable shift in his stance on two key issues this week – Social Security and TikTok. As the general election rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden looms, both leaders are recalibrating their policy positions to appeal to voters.
Biden, for instance, has strategically altered his border policy to address the ongoing border crisis and to divert support away from Trump. However, Trump’s recent comments on TikTok and Social Security, made during an unfiltered interview on CNBC, suggest a lack of clarity on Social Security and an ambiguous stance on TikTok.
Trump’s Changing Views on Social Security
Trump, who has spent much of his political career promising to protect Social Security benefits, recently hinted at potential cuts to the program. This marks a significant departure from the Republican party’s long-standing warnings about deficit spending.
In a recent CNBC interview, Trump seemed to suggest that he was open to cutting Social Security. However, his campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, argued that Trump was referring to cutting waste, not entitlements. This ambiguity has led to confusion about Trump’s current position on Social Security.
Trump’s Flip on TikTok
Trump’s stance on TikTok has also seen a significant shift. As president, he issued executive orders that would have forced ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest the popular social media app. However, Trump now seems indifferent to forcing ByteDance to spin off TikTok, stating that Facebook, not TikTok, is “an enemy of the people”.
Meanwhile, Biden has indicated that he would sign a bill to potentially ban TikTok, a move that has been criticized by free speech advocates such as the ACLU. The proposed bill, which is being considered by both House Republicans and Democrats, would force ByteDance to spin off TikTok within roughly five months or bar it from US app stores.
Adding another layer to the issue is Trump’s recent meeting with GOP donor Jeff Yass, who reportedly has a large stake in TikTok and opposes the House bill. Despite speculation that Yass influenced Trump’s change of heart on TikTok, Trump insists that they did not discuss the app during their meeting.
As the election approaches, the evolving positions of both Trump and Biden on key issues such as Social Security and TikTok will undoubtedly continue to shape the political landscape.