McConnell sounded the alarm over TikTok in his floor speech on Monday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite/File)
McConnell's remarks on the popular social media app, which is under scrutiny due to its ownership by Chinese company Bytedance, came after legislation to force the sale of the company to a non-Chinese entity passed the House with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority last month.
Only one member abstained when the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, introduced in the House by Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., passed, 352-65.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping is shown here. Due to China's laws, businesses in the country must divulge private information. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images/File)
However, with Schumer's decision not to immediately take the bill to the floor for a vote, and Cantwell's plan for hearings, it appears unlikely that their desired quick action will take place.
The Senate minority leader also addressed an argument made by several of his Republican colleagues regarding the TikTok bill, slamming the suggestion that it violates the First Amendment.
"This isn’t a debate about restricting speech," McConnell said.
The Senate did not expedite the House-passed bill. Sen. Maria Cantwell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are shown here. (Getty Images/File)
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"The question we’ll face is about conduct, not content," he said.
And according to McConnell, "Requiring the divestment of Beijing-influenced entities from TikTok would land squarely within established constitutional precedent."
Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
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