After trying to ban TikTok when he was president, Mr Trump now opposes a bill that targets the app
Former US President Donald Trump has criticised a congressional bill to force TikTok's parent company to sell the app or see it banned in the US. Mr Trump, who attempted to ban TikTok in 2020 while in the White House, said the proposal would give unfair advantages to Facebook owner Meta.
Lawmakers are debating a measure that would force TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell it by 30 September.
"Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people," Mr Trump told NBC on Monday.
"There are a lot of people on TikTok that love it. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it," Mr Trump said.
TikTok executives deny sharing any data with China, and maintain they would refuse to do so if asked.
In 2020, Mr Trump signed a presidential executive order that directed ByteDance to sell off TikTok within 90 days.
An anti-tax lobbying group that is close with Mr Trump has also taken a strong stand against the proposed ban.
In his interview with NBC, Mr Trump said he agreed with those who see TikTok as a national security threat, but argued that Facebook was also a threat to the American government.
"I think Facebook has been very bad for our country, especially when it comes to elections," Mr Trump added.
TikTok is one of the most popular apps in the US, especially among younger people.