Apple has been among more than a dozen U.S. companies to warn the Trump administration about the harsh implications of banning WeChat from its platforms. President Trump is trying to ban the app because of concerns about national security, and during a press conference today, he offered a ‘rebuttal’ to Apple’s argument.
During a press conference with reporters today at the White House, Trump was asked about the implications of the ban on WeChat by Bloomberg correspondent Justin Sink. In his response, Trump doubled doubts about national security concerns and said a simple ‘something’ to Apple’s concerns:
Here is the transcript of the interaction:
Sink: There’s a lot of alarm among US companies about your order on WeChat. Apple, Ford, Disney, they worry because it’s such a big communications platform and payment platform in China, that if you forbid US companies to work with them, they can not sell iPhones in China or similar markets.
Trump: Whatever.
Sink: That you do not care…?
Trump: Should I do what is right in terms of the security of our country. We are very badly left by China.
Trump signed an executive order last week aimed at banning transactions between U.S. companies and the Chinese companies behind TikTok and WeChat. The order will take effect in September, and Microsoft is working to get TikTok in the United States.
Apple and companies such as Disney, Ford, Intel, Morgan Stanley, UPS, and Walmart took part in a conversation with Trump Administration officials this week, warning that the consequences of this ban could be “serious.” In Apple’s case, WeChat is all for iPhone users in China, and banning the app from the worldwide App Store could be disastrous for iPhone sales in China.
One of the problems with the call is that the scope of the order is completely unclear. Is it only in the US, as for all transactions worldwide, including China? Lastly, this can be devastating for Apple. Listed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo warned this week that it could slash the iPhone maker’s worldwide sales by as much as 30%.
The White House has not yet addressed the points made during the call, and Trump’s comments today appear to provide no further clarification.
Watch the interaction in the video below at the mark of 20 minutes and 49 seconds.
FTC: We use income earning links for auto affiliate. More.
Watch 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
