Second Republican debate: Haley attacks Ramaswamy over TikTok — ‘I feel a bit dumber’

Nikki Haley attacked Vivek Ramaswamy on the GOP presidential debate stage over his decision to make a TikTok account while all other Republicans moved to oppose the popular social platform over its ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Haley, who has remained a staunch critic of the platform, went after Ramaswamy over his decision to make a TikTok account in mid-September after meeting YouTube star Jake Paul. Haley focused on the fact that Ramaswamy was convinced to join the platform at the behest of Paul. “Should the commander in chief be so easily persuaded by an influencer?” Haley asked of Ramaswamy. The former biotech executive said he is using the tool to reach a younger generation and added he is the “one person in the Republican Party who talks a big game about reaching young people.”

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“This is infuriating because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media assets that we could have,” Haley told the former executive. “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

Haley claimed that TikTok could steal a user’s private data. Haley also said that Ramaswamy has been “in business with the Chinese,” and that’s why “we can’t trust you.”

Ramaswamy diverted from the question altogether. “I think we would be better served as a Republican Party if we’re not sitting here hurling personal insults and actually have a legitimate debate about policy,” he retorted.

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Ramaswamy defended his presence on the platform as a tool for reaching new voters. “The fact is that many young voters are [using it] & we’re not going to change this country without winning,” Ramaswamy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Experts have raised the fear that the Chinese Communist Party could use national security laws to acquire data from ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, for surveillance purposes. The concern has grown enough that several members of Congress have introduced legislation to ban or restrict the app in the U.S. States, too, have moved to restrict the app — most notably, Montana this year banned it altogether.