Trump Administration To Take Action Against Chinese Software Companies In 'Coming Days,' Pompeo Says

Amid sustained tensions with China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that President Trump would take new steps in the coming days against Chinese software companies that pose a national security threat.

Appearing on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Features," Pompeo said "Trump has said 'enough' and we are going to fix it" and that Trump would make an announcement “shortly.”

"[Trump] will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo said.

Pompeo’s comments come after Trump said on Friday that “as far as [video-sharing app] TikTok is concerned we’re banning them from the United States," potentially through an executive order.

"Here's what I hope the American people will come to recognize: these Chinese software companies doing business in the United States, whether it's TikTok or WeChat, there's countless more ... are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo said.

Appearing on ABC News' "This Week," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin offered similar comments about the state of TikTok.

"I will say publicly that the entire committee agrees that TikTok cannot stay in the current format because it risks sending back information on 100 million Americans," Mnuchin said.

There has long been talk of the Trump administration getting tough on Chinese tech companies. In early July, Pompeo said that the U.S. was "looking at" banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps.

In May, Trump extended an executive order barring U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by firms posing a national security risk, which was seen as a direct attack against Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp.

American tech companies have monitored the possible banning of TikTok and other apps. The Wall Street Journal cited sources Sunday that claimed U.S.-based software giant Microsoft had "paused negotiations to buy the U.S. operations" of TikTok after Trump's comments opposing the deal.

Facebook is expected to soon release Instagram Reels, a video-editing app that would compete against TikTok, and is offering payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars to TikTok "creators." Reels has been tested in France, Germany, Brazil, and India.