In 2020, Donald Trump was one of the advocates for banning TikTok on U.S. soil due to the risk of American citizens' data falling into Chinese hands. However, the tables have turned, and paradoxically, the executioner of TikTok in 2020 has become its savior in 2025. His argument: freedom of speech. And that's where Elon Musk comes into play.

The TikTok mess. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution defends freedom of speech and religion without possible government interference. However, this premise clashed directly with some decrees passed in states like Montana, governed by the Republican Party, and by the HR7521 Law, known as the Americans Against Foreign Adversaries Act, signed by the Biden Administration. Under this law, companies from other countries are prohibited from collecting data from U.S. users and storing it outside their territory.

Hence, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and other apps like Marvel Snap, CapCut cannot operate in the U.S. unless it is in partnership with an American company. This is something Trump has already announced he will review during his term, lifting the ban on the Chinese app.

Freedom of speech. Elon Musk, as a self-proclaimed champion of freedom of speech in the U.S. since purchasing the social network X, has already expressed his opposition to the banning of TikTok in the U.S. "In my opinion, TikTok should not be banned in the U.S., even though such a ban might benefit the X platform," the millionaire stated in April 2024.

Months later, now with a more established position of influence, the millionaire clarifies his words by responding to himself: "I have been against the ban on TikTok for a long time because it goes against freedom of speech. That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in the United States, but X is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced. Something has to change."