The TikTok Deal Explained: Why Trump’s ‘National Security’ Plan Is Really About Political Control

We haven’t solved foreign control of TikTok. We’ve just replaced it with domestic authoritarian control. And somehow, that’s supposed to make us feel safer

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I watched Trump sign away TikTok’s independence while laughing about making it “100% MAGA,” and I finally understood what we’ve been refusing to admit.

The joke landed wrong.

Trump stood at the signing ceremony, pen in hand, executive order ready. He’d just “saved” TikTok from a congressional ban. Then he said he’d like to tweak the algorithm to make content “100 percent MAGA.” Everyone laughed. He added something about treating everyone fairly, covering his tracks. But I couldn’t shake the feeling, no, the certainty that he’d just told us exactly what he plans to do.

Here’s what I’ve learned about this administration: they announce their intentions openly, then dare you to stop them.

The National Security Lie