Trump's newfound opposition to a TikTok ban isn't swaying Republicans

WASHINGTON — Former President Trump reversed course and now opposes a ban on social media giant TikTok. But his new stance — and a full-court press from TikTok and its millions of users — isn’t swaying his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill.

House GOP leaders are charging ahead with a vote Wednesday on legislation that would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless its parent company, China-based ByteDance, agrees to divest the popular video-based video app.

And even some of Trump’s conservative allies in Congress said they have no problem calling out their party's presumptive nominee for president over his newfound position on TikTok.

“Well, he’s wrong. And by the way, he had his own executive orders and his own actions he was doing, and now … he’s suddenly flipped around on that,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus. "I mean, it’s not the first or last time that I’ll disagree with the former president. The TikTok issue is pretty straightforward.”

“I have respect and admiration for President Trump,” added Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., another Trump backer. “Nobody controls how I vote on certain issues.”

The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — co-authored by the leaders of the select committee investigating the Chinese Communist Party, Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. — received a boost of momentum last week when it cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee on a rare 50-0 vote. President Joe Biden has endorsed the bill.

"TikTok will have to make a choice as to whether or not they stay connected to ByteDance and ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or if they choose to sell and operate in the United