Chairman John Moolenaar Delivers Remarks at Capitol Hill Event on TikTok and National Security

WASHINGTON DC — Today, Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party delivered opening remarks at the “How to Save TikTok and Protect U.S. National Security” event at the Capitol. View the remarks here. 

Addressing a room full of industry experts and the media, Chairman Moolenaar warned of the urgent threat posed by Chinese ownership of TikTok and reaffirmed the Committee’s stance: any deal that allows ByteDance to retain control of the platform is unacceptable and illegal under U.S. law, which he made clear in his recent op-ed in the National Review.

“We are at a critical juncture in the fight against Chinese influence over our digital infrastructure,” said Moolenaar. “ByteDance cannot be trusted to operate TikTok independently of the Chinese Communist Party, and any arrangement that allows them to retain access to user data, algorithms, or operations is a direct threat to our national security.” 

Chairman Moolenaar emphasized the bipartisan passage of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which mandates full divestiture of TikTok by ByteDance. He highlighted past failures like Project Texas as evidence that mere promises of data protection are insufficient. 

“A bad deal would lead to legal chaos, damage investor confidence, and set a dangerous precedent for foreign control of U.S. tech,” he continued. “There’s still time for a ‘deal of the century’ — but only one that fully complies with the law."

Read the Chairman’s full remarks below: 

Thank you for having me today. The issue we’re discussing is about more than just TikTok—it’s about protecting American interests, our national security, and ensuring our tech industry remains free from foreign control. 

We are at a critical juncture in the fight against Chinese influence over our digital infrastructure, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. 

As Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, I’m here to make one thing clear: any deal that allows ByteDance to maintain control of TikTok is a grave threat to our security and a violation of U.S. law. 

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party and cannot be trusted to operate independently. 

ByteDance is trying to hold onto TikTok by pushing a licensing deal and maintaining control over its algorithm and staff. 

At the same time, they’re running a massive PR campaign across the U.S. to sway public opinion and distract from the core issue: ongoing Chinese control of the app. 



We’ve seen this before with Project Texas — ByteDance promised to protect U.S. user data by storing it domestically, but it still controlled the platform and data still flowed to China. 

That’s why the law is now crystal clear: ByteDance must divest and give up all control, data access, algorithms, and influence over TikTok’s operations. 

This isn’t optional. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which passed with bipartisan support, requires full divestiture. 

If ByteDance stays involved in any way, the deal is illegal — plain and simple. 

A bad deal would also trigger lawsuits, create legal uncertainty and chaos, and hurt U.S. companies and consumers. 

U.S. tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Oracle could soon find themselves facing shareholder lawsuits, leading to escalating penalties and massive fines that jeopardize the future of their companies. 

It would also weaken our legal system, destabilize the tech sector, and set a dangerous precedent for Chinese influence over U.S. tech infrastructure. 

The consequences would ripple across the tech industry, shaking investor confidence and threatening millions of American jobs. 

There’s still time for a “deal of the century” — but only one that fully adheres to the law. ByteDance must divest, plain and simple. 

This is about more than just one app — it’s about protecting our national security, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the future of American technology. 

As chairman of the House Select Committee on China, I am committed to ensuring that any deal with TikTok meets the clear statutory requirements laid out by Congress. 

Thank you. 

###