Mnuchin optimistic TikTok 'algorithms could be rebuilt' if he purchases platform

Steven Mnuchin, Trump's former Treasury secretary, indicated this week that he was still exploring the purchase of social media platform TikTok and that he had spoken with tech companies about the prospect of revamping the app's algorithms.

Mnuchin in March announced that he was putting together a group to purchase TikTok in the event that legislation forced parent company ByteDance to sell, saying "[t]his should be owned by U.S. businesses. There's no way that the Chinese would ever let a U.S. company own something like this in China."

Speaking to Bloomberg Television, Mnuchin on Tuesday said that "I've actually spoken to a lot of tech companies on working about rebuilding this. I do believe the algorithms could be rebuilt," per The Hill.

"So my plan, if we were to purchase it, would be to rebuild the technology under U.S. leadership, make sure that it’s all disconnected from ByteDance going forward, and that it is very robust and secure," he continued.

President Joe Biden ultimately signed legislation ordering ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a ban on the app in the U.S., though the company last month said it had no plans to sell the app.

Earlier this week, TikTok and ByteDance sued over the law, arguing that the ban was "obviously unconstitutional."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.