Theo Von Says TikTok Ban Boils Down To Covering Up Palestine ‘Genocide’: ‘They Want To Own It, Dude’

Screenshot via This Past Weekend podcast

Theo Von accused government officials of pushing a TikTok ban not because they are concerned about Americans’ private information being shared with China, but because they want the Palestinian “genocide” covered up.

In a Tuesday episode of the This Past Weekend podcast, Von dismissed any national security concerns being floated about the China-owned TikTok platform, arguing the prevalence of content related to Israel’s bombing of Gaza — where thousands of civilians have been killed — is the real reason the government is uncomfortable.

“I believe that they don’t want people sharing the truth about the genocide in Palestine and that’s why they’re doing it. I believe that that’s what it is and TikTok is one of those places where people can still do that. And they want to own it. They want to own it, dude,” the podcaster and comedian said.

Amid calls for a federal ban, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at Mar-a-Lago. It is unclear what his plans for the platform are. He said at a recent press conference he has a “warm spot” in his heart for the platform, partly crediting it for his presidential victory.

“They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see, and as I looked at it, I said, ‘Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while,'” Trump said at a recent Turning Point USA event in Arizona.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok’s case to halt a coming ban, which stems from a law requiring the platform’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the company.

“They don’t want somebody getting your information on TikTok, but they’ll let somebody just come across — willy nilly, come into the country,” Von said on Tuesday.

The comedian mocked concerns about information being shared with China, insisting most private information is up for grabs in this digital age anyway.

“And people say, like, well, we don’t want China to have our information. They all have our [information] — I don’t understand what that means. You have my information!” he said. “I have like six pieces of information, there’s no way you don’t have them.”

Watch above via This Past Weekend (relevant portion begins at 34:00).