Rand Paul on China, Free Speech, and Banning TikTok

Sen.RandPaul(R–Ky.)hasopposedtheTikTokbansinceitcaughtoninCongress.InJanuary,sensingacongressionalattitudeshiftafterPresidentDonaldTrumpcametotheapp’sdefense,Paul introducedtheRepealtheTikTokBanAct.ThebillispartofPaul’sbroaderprojectoftryingtokeepalivea“consistentlyfreetradeandfreemarkets”wingwithintheRepublicanParty. Reason’sElizabethNolanBrownspokewiththesenatorinJanuaryaboutTikTok,thetroublewithisolatingourselvesfromChina,andthedivisionsbetweenconservativesandlibertariansonspeech. Q:WhatwouldyourRepealtheTikTokBanActdo,andwhyisitnecessary? A:I’vebeenfightingagainsttheTikTokbansincetheideacamearound.Ithinkit’spartofanoverallhysteriaontheHillaboutChina,andalsoamisguidedapproach.Ithinkthemoreyoubantrade,themoreyoubanthingslikeTikTok,theworserelationsget. Ithink the[Supreme]Courtgotitwrong[whenitupheldCongress’forcedsaleofTikTok].Idon’tthinkthere’sanationalsecurityexception