Haley Doubles Down on Her Criticism of Ramaswamy Over TikTok

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers remarks during the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Sept. 27, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Sunday explained why she once praised her fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy but is criticizing him now.

At issue is Mr. Ramaswamy’s recent decision to join the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok, becoming the first GOP presidential candidate to join the platform. He said it was a way to reach out to young voters, but for months before signing up, he repeatedly criticized the app as “digital fentanyl” and suggested that the app should be banned.

Mr. Ramaswamy defended his decision during the second Republican presidential debate on Sept. 27, saying: “We need to win elections. And part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are.”

His remark drew a rebuke from Ms. Haley. “This is infuriating because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps we could have,” she said, before adding, “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

Several countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK, and the United States have banned TikTok from government devices over national security concerns. TikTok is owned by China-based tech giant ByteDance.

(L–R) Former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy speak during the second Republican presidential primary debate in Simi Valley, Calif., on Sept. 27, 2023. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Ms. Haley was asked about how she praised Mr. Ramaswamy in the blurb she wrote for his book “Woke Inc.” She wrote, “His combination of honesty, intellect, and foresight are exactly what we need to overcome our challenges in the years ahead.”

“I think I always praise people when they deserve to be praised. And I hit people when they deserve to be hit,” Ms. Haley said in response. “The book that he wrote, I supported it. I helped him. He asked me for help with it. I was happy to do it. I'll help anybody that needs help. And it was a good book.”

Ms. Haley continued: “But I think the things he’s saying now as he’s running for president is very different than that. The idea that he is saying, ‘Well, because 150 million Americans are on TikTok even though it’s dangerous, I’m going to get on it anyway,’ is not leadership. That’s just going with the crowd.”

TikTok

On Saturday, Mr. Ramaswamy again defended his decision for wanting to reach out to young voters via TikTok, in an interview on Fox News’ “Cavuto Live.”

“So, my concerns remain,” Mr.  Ramaswamy said. “I want to declare economic independence from China. I think kids under the age of 16 should not be using addictive social media. We’re not going to change any of that, though, until we win elections.”

Without naming anyone, he suggested that some candidates’ children had been using TikTok. He said, “I do think it’s a little hypocritical for the other candidates who were virtue signaling and criticizing me onstage, even as their own kids, adult children are on TikTok today.”

On Sunday, Ms. Haley was asked if Mr. Ramaswamy was directing his criticism at her.

“My son’s not on TikTok. My daughter was on TikTok up until about 2020, and I think she posted something at a bachelorette party. But look, she’s 25 years old. My job is to educate,” she said in response.

“Be very careful about how people talk about TikTok. This is the Chinese Communist Party who is doing espionage,” she added. “They don’t just put things on your phone in an app. They get access to your contacts, they get access to your financial data, they get access to your emails, and they spread different, dangerous things.”

Ms. Haley concluded: “I’m going to keep saying that I think TikTok is dangerous. And just because 150 million people are on it doesn’t mean you do it because it’s politically popular. I think that’s wrong.”

TikTok logo on an iPhone in London on Feb. 28, 2023. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Last week, the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) issued a report on how China is spending billions each year to disseminate disinformation and propaganda. In the report, the GEC stated that ByteDance allegedly kept an internal list blocking or restricting individuals with critical views of China from accessing TikTok until at least late 2020.

In March, cybersecurity firm Internet 2.0 reported that TikTok was harvesting users’ data, including locations, contacts, and passwords.

Poll

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 59 percent of Americans saw TikTok as a major or minor threat to U.S. national security. Seventeen percent said the app was not a threat while 23 percent weren’t sure.

Older Americans viewed TikTok as more of a threat. According to the survey, 13 percent of adults aged from 18 to 29 said TikTok was a major threat, 24 percent for those aged between 30 and 49, 35 percent for those between 50 and 64, and 46 percent for 65 and older.

Republicans were more likely than Democrats to be alarmed by TikTok. According to the survey, 50 percent of conservative Republicans saw the app as a major threat, while 16 percent of liberal Democrats shared the same opinion.

Meanwhile, 64 percent of Americans said they were either very or somewhat concerned about TikTok’s data use practices.