Recently, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has faced criticism on social media following a viral rant of hers on the House floor about the popular social media app TikTok. The Democratic Congresswoman was attempting to illustrate that proposed legislation surrounding the video-sharing platform sought to “make TikTok better” instead of banning it.
The California representative attempted to make her point with the phrase “tic-tac-toe” during her statement. “This is not an attempt to ban TikTok, it’s an attempt to make TikTok better,” Pelosi said, while making emphatic hand gestures. “Tic-tac-toe, a winner,” drawing a line in the air emulating a win in the game when a player attains three x’s or o’s.
Users on social media were quick to call out Nancy Pelosi for her remarks. Former U.S. Representative Madison Cawthorn wrote on X, “She’s lost her mind!!!!.” Someone added in the comments section, “She did that a long time ago!”
“Nancy Pelosi soft-launching her new social media video app ‘Tic-Tac-Toe,’” user @tony_magoni posted on X. Another user said, “Is she buying TikTok stock/options?” Nancy Pelosi has often been criticized online for allegedly using her political power for her financial benefit. “Why does the government have to make TikTok better? I don’t want the government making decisions on how to make social media companies better,” another person commented.
Congressional lawmakers have been discussing possible legislation on whether to ban TikTok in the U.S. or to force the social media platform to divest itself of any foreign or Chinese control and ownership. The debate on this legislation follows concerns that China could weaponize the app to collect the data of Americans and users from other nations around the world.
The House voted 352-65 in favor of legislation mandating that TikTok divest from all Chinese ownership or be banned from U.S. app stores. Furthermore, the House Select Committee on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) stated the bill also grants the president the authority to designate certain apps as “social media applications that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary—per Title 10—and pose a national security risk.”
Despite nearly 200 Republicans voting in favor of the measure, some conservatives have criticized it for possibly leading to an infringement on free speech. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene warned that the legislation could “open Pandora’s box” for government censorship.
“As the only member of Congress who has ever been banned from social media, I oppose today’s TikTok ban bill. This bill would open Pandora’s box and create a slippery slope for future government censorship of Americans and our precious First Amendment,” MTG wrote on X.
“Most Americans don’t trust the United States government because of our experience dealing with it. Never forget that the United States Government also was the one that provided the Russia hoax to Americans. It also worked to ban Americans free speech. It also has worked in so many ways to illegally warrantless spy on Americans through FISA,” Rep. Greene added, speaking before Congress.
Watch Nancy Pelosi’s bizarre “Tic-Tac-Toe” comment below.
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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