The argument over banning the video-sharing platform TikTok, which the Supreme Court is currently presiding over, is a "First Amendment case for 170 million Americans," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Fox News on Friday.
Paul told anchor Maria Bartiromo that "even the authors of the TikTok ban will tell you they're trying to stop certain ideas from being expressed. They worry about these ideas. Which, to me, are frankly a lot of dancing videos, which I think if you don't want your kid watching dancing videos, what happened to parental control?"
Attorney General Merrick Garland brought the case against the app.
Paul went on to argue that "governmental control is forbidden by the First Amendment. And so I think this is a First Amendment case for 170 million American" who use "this app. It's also confusing when people say, 'It's a Chinese-owned app.' It's owned by international investors. It's like 60% of the people who own TikTok are not Chinese. The two people who developed it are Chinese engineers. But there's 7,000 Americans who work for TikTok — who are part owners of TikTok also. So, this is a lot more complicated than they make it out. And I think the First Amendment is too important. And if you're one of the people worried about the app, don't use it."
Nick Koutsobinas ✉
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.