TikTok Schadenfreude
3 minute readPublished: Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 3:50 am
Trump Claims Sweeping Power to Nullify Laws in TikTok Ban Dispute
Recent documents reveal President Donald Trump's administration asserted the power to override a law passed by Congress regarding the social media platform TikTok. The documents, obtained through Freedom of Information Act lawsuits, detail letters sent to tech companies like Apple and Google. These letters, penned by Attorney General Pam Bondi, stated that Trump believed shutting down TikTok would interfere with his "constitutional duties." Consequently, the administration argued that the law, which barred American companies from supporting TikTok, must yield to the president's "core presidential national security and foreign affairs powers."
The law in question, passed with significant bipartisan support in 2024, was unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court. The documents portray Trump as having nullified the legal effects of this statute.
The author notes a sense of "Schadenfreude" in this situation, drawing parallels to actions taken by the Obama administration. The author points out that the Obama administration also found ways to disregard laws it didn't like, such as the Affordable Care Act's mandates and immigration laws through policies like DAPA and DACA. The author suggests that while legal distinctions may exist between the actions of the two administrations, the precedents set by the Obama administration paved the way for Trump's actions.
The author also highlights the lack of standing to challenge the suspension of the laws, a situation that mirrors the Obama administration's approach. The author concludes that the public's interest in using TikTok may further contribute to the lack of opposition to Trump's actions.
BNN's Perspective:
This situation highlights a concerning trend of executive overreach, regardless of the political party in power. While the specifics of the TikTok ban are important, the underlying issue of presidential power to disregard duly enacted laws is a fundamental threat to the separation of powers. It is crucial for all branches of government to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the executive branch operates within the bounds of the Constitution.
Keywords: Trump, TikTok, Ban, Executive Power, Nullification, Laws, Congress, Supreme Court, Obama, DAPA, DACA, Apple, Google, Pam Bondi, National Security, Foreign Affairs, Constitution, Schadenfreude