Texas Republican: 'I express my regret for voting to ban TikTok'

Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) said he has “regret for voting to ban TikTok,” in a Wednesday op-ed for Fox News.

“Admitting a mistake can be challenging for anybody, particularly for a politician. Today, I express my regret for voting to ban TikTok,” Hunt wrote.

“Nearly a year after casting my vote to ban TikTok, while also observing President Trump’s incredible success on the platform, I decided to create my own account. Since November, I’ve been far more effective at communicating with my district and sharing updates on legislation, current events, and newsworthy matters in Washington, DC,” he added.

Late last month, a law went into effect requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or risk being banned in the U.S. Preparing for the ban, the app cut off U.S. access to the platform.

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” a message read when American users opened the app.

However, the following day, TikTok said it was “in the process” of bringing back U.S. service, only about 12 hours after it cut off access to American users.

“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said previously on social platform X.

“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the app continued.

In his op-ed, Hunt said “TikTok has become a powerful campaign tool that enabled President Trump to reach younger generations across the political spectrum.”

“TikTok has informed, inspired, and mobilized millions, particularly Gen Z, who played a decisive role in the 2024 election,” he added. “We cannot ignore this generation's impact. Gen Z and millennials are not just the future—they are the present, shaping the trajectory of our nation.”

The Hill has reached out to TikTok for comment.