Dave Portnoy reacts to TikTok debate, says he's 'very concerned' about small business owners

Barstool Sports laminitis and president Dave Portnoy said it’s hard to underestimate the value of TikTok for small businesses and contented creators arsenic lawmakers mull the adjacent steps for the societal media platform.

"I'm precise acrophobic astir however galore radical gain a living. It's huge. You can't underestimate that. And conscionable to chopped it retired – and you got radical who are investing successful Meta penning the bills, it's each beauteous confusing," helium said Tuesday connected "The Will Cain Show."

TikTok went acheronian successful the United States precocious Saturday nighttime aft the app’s China-based parent institution ByteDance failed to merchantability the level to a U.S. buyer.

TikTok prohibition connection appears connected a mobile surface with TikTok logo connected tablet screen, seen successful this photograph illustration. Taken successful Brussels, Belgium, On 19 January 2025.  (Jonathan Raa / Sipa USA)

President Donald Trump, who supported banning TikTok successful 2020, signed an enforcement bid connected his archetypal time successful bureau Monday, giving it a 75-day hold to proceed operating successful the United States.

Chairman of the House Select Committee connected the Chinese Communist Party John Moolenaar, R-Mich., penned an op-ed explaining the adjacent steps for TikTok.

SENATOR CALLS TIKTOK ‘A WEAPON,’ SAYS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ‘NEED TO KNOW THE CHILLING TRUTH’ ABOUT IT

"TikTok’s attempts to blasted the authorities are deceiving. The instrumentality is not a ban, and Congress gave TikTok a straightforward way to proceed operating: Sever ties with the Chinese government, and the restrictions volition beryllium instantly lifted," Moolenaar wrote. "When the instrumentality was enacted past April, Congress gave ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese genitor company, 270 days to merchantability disconnected its involvement and relinquish power of the platform."

"But adjacent arsenic American buyers person lined up to marque an offer, ByteDance has refused to sermon the anticipation of a sale. In a determination that is raising eyebrows, the institution appears consenting to ticker its reportedly $50 cardinal U.S. operation spell up successful flames alternatively than comply with the law’s elemental request to divest," helium continued.

A TikTok logo is displayed connected a smartphone successful this illustration taken connected Jan. 6, 2020.  (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)

In a video posted to YouTube, Portnoy said the TikTok statement reminds him of the aboriginal days of the COVID-19 pandemic erstwhile the authorities told businesses not to unfastened their doors due to the fact that it has to "protect you."

"There are truthful galore creators, tiny businesses who person worked for years, for years to physique their livelihoods, their careers connected TikTok. You yet go palmy and the authorities is like, boop! Sorry, chopped your legs out. You're done," helium said successful the video. 

Portnoy told Fox News big Will Cain helium doesn’t spot immoderate societal media web and admitted helium didn’t cognize overmuch astir however the CCP uses the app to cod idiosyncratic information.

FILE - This Feb. 25, 2020, record photo, shows the icon for TikTok successful New York.   President Donald Trump volition bid China’s ByteDance to merchantability its deed video app TikTok due to the fact that of national-security concerns, according to reports published Friday, July 31, 2020. "We are looking astatine TikTok," Trump told reporters Friday astatine the White House. "We whitethorn beryllium banning TikTok." (AP Photo/File) (AP Photo/File)

"I don't person the Secret Service telling maine everything they're disquieted about. I get the disinformation to a degree. The spying? I don't know. I'm conscionable a communal dude sitting present looking connected TikTok and asking, what are they talking about?" helium explained.

Trump wrote connected Truth Social implicit the play that helium would similar to spot the United States person a "joint venture betwixt the existent owners and/or caller owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership successful a associated task acceptable up betwixt the U.S. and whichever acquisition we truthful choose."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He added that without U.S. support "there is nary TikTok." "With our approval, it is worthy hundreds of billions of dollars - possibly trillions."