BREAKING: Biden Signs TikTok Divestment Ban, $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package Into Law

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed the national security package into law which included $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for Indo-Pacific, significant amounts for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and a bill that forces the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, to sell the the popular social media platform to an American company within a year or face a permanent ban.

“The path to my desk was a difficult path. It should have been easier and it should’ve gotten there sooner,” Biden said in remarks after signing the bill. “But in the end we did what America always does, we rose to the moment." The legislation faced considerable resistance from Republicans in the House, ultimaetly being unable to win the support from a majority of the majority. Despite this, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) forced the bill to the floor with the help of Democrats and successfully got the bill through the lower chamber. The Senate voted on Tuesday evening with 79 in favor, 18 against, and three abstaining.

In response to the bill, TikTok has vowed to take legal action. "This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court," TikTok said in a statement. "We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation. This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans. As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired."

While the package will have some domestic impacts with the potential ban of TikTok, the new law will also allocate a significant amount of American taxdollars overseas. According to The Wall Street Journal, the foreign aid portion of the bill is broken up as follows:

• $60 billion for Ukraine
  • $20.5 billion to European Command operations
  • $15.8 billion for security assistance
  • $13.4 billion to replenish American weapon stockpiles
  • $9.5 billion in forgiveable loans
  • $900 million in general expenses
• $26.3 billion for Israel
  • $13 billion for defensive activities
  • $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid
  • $3.6 billion in security assistance
  • $600 million in general expenses
• $8.1 billion for Indo-Pacific
  • $5.6 billion for deterrence
  • $2 billion in military spending
  • $300 million for shipyards
  • $300 million in general expenses

Watch President Biden's full remarks on the legislation below:
 

Tune in as I deliver remarks on the Senate passage of the national security package. https://t.co/aPRGmC4TDW

— President Biden (@POTUS) April 24, 2024

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