Donald Trump's administration, during his previous term as president, targeted WeChat due to national security and data privacy concerns related to its connection with the Chinese government.

Here's a breakdown of the key reasons and actions taken:

Data Collection and Access by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): The primary concern was that WeChat, owned by the Chinese company Tencent, automatically collects vast amounts of user data, including personal and proprietary information. The Trump administration alleged that this data could be accessed by the Chinese government, potentially allowing them to track U.S. citizens, federal employees, and contractors, and to build dossiers. They cited instances like a researcher reportedly discovering a Chinese database with billions of WeChat messages from users in various countries.

Censorship and Disinformation: It was also argued that WeChat, like other Chinese platforms, censors content deemed politically sensitive by the CCP and could be used for disinformation campaigns beneficial to the Chinese government.

National Emergency Powers: In August 2020, President Trump signed an executive order, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, aiming to ban WeChat in the U.S. This order was signed alongside a similar one targeting TikTok.

Broad Prohibition on Transactions: The executive order sought to prohibit "any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person... subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with Tencent Holdings Ltd." The goal was to effectively remove the app from U.S. app stores and restrict its functionality.

Escalating U.S.-China Tensions: The targeting of WeChat was part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to confront China on various fronts, including trade, technology, and national security. This included actions against other Chinese tech companies like Huawei and ZTE.

Legal Challenges and Outcomes (from Trump's previous term):

It's important to note that the attempts to ban WeChat in the U.S. faced significant legal challenges. A U.S. district court issued a preliminary injunction, blocking the Trump administration's ban order. The court cited concerns about potential harm to First Amendment rights (freedom of speech) and the hardships imposed on minority communities who rely on WeChat as a primary means of communication with family and for business, particularly those with connections to China.

Ultimately, the Biden administration, after taking office, dropped the direct ban on TikTok and WeChat but issued a new executive order mandating accountability measures for foreign-owned apps that pose national security risks.

Given that Donald Trump is now serving as the 47th US President as of January 20, 2025, it's possible that similar concerns regarding Chinese technology, including WeChat, could resurface as a point of focus in his current administration's policy, aligning with his past stances on national security and economic competition with China.