Personally I think the spy threat from TikTok is real.
Many private companies and other countries have banned it, and they aren’t all delusional. And I agree handing off control to Microsoft won’t necessarily fix that.
The 4D chess view is that Trump is using this to send a message to Big Tech and their social media censors. “Continue to screw with me and I can think of ways to demonetize YOU too.”
I don’t disagree with you.