'They don't understand': Lawmaker smacks down TikTok defenders as Trump fights looming ban
A Michigan Democrat took a shot at supporters of TikTok as President-elect Donald Trump tries to block a looming ban set to take effect next month.
Trump on Friday asked the Supreme Court to hit the brakes on a law that could ban the popular social media site nationwide starting Jan. 19 if its owner, who is Chinese, doesn’t sell it to an American company.
Rep. Debbie Dingell on Friday evening called the issue "difficult" — but said lawmakers in both chambers passed the bill for the good of the country.
"This was a very difficult decision for me, Wolf," said Dingell on "The Situation Room" with host Wolf Blitzer. "It is national security versus the millions and millions of users that we have in this country. But the fact of the matter is, is that a significant majority in both the House and the Senate, in a very bipartisan way, voted for this because of the reasons that we got."
Dingell acknowledged that while young people — who are largely the main users of the app — voted for Trump, she and her colleagues have a "responsibility" to protect national security.
"They also don't understand how much of their information is being tracked, how it will be used in the future, etc. The Supreme Court needs to make its findings on a Constitutional basis. The president has the right to express his opinion. And I hope the Supreme Court makes its findings based on the law that was passed and the Constitution."
Dingell also weighed in on a massive split in MAGA land over H1B visas, and pointed out Republicans — much like her party — are finding immigration reform a "difficult issue."
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"While Musk is concerned about Silicon Valley and technology, we have a lot of farmers, we have a lot of small businesses that also are looking at these kinds of issues," she said.
Dingell called for ensuring the government is investing in American workers, including training them.
"We need engineers in this country, we need those skilled trades," she said.
The recent schism further shows "there's a reason" comprehensive immigration reform has been so tough for both parties, she said.
Dingell also called on her party to improve how it talks to workers about issues that matter to them, including the cost of eggs.
"We as Democrats do a lousy job at times just talking to the working men and women of this country," she said.
She added: "We did a bad job of that" — and while Trump didn't, he faces a steep challenge in addressing those problems.
Watch the clip below or at this link.