Rep. Brad Sherman's claim that TikTok owners are bribing Trump with memecoins is false. The accusation was directed at the wrong company. Here's the breakdown.

TikTok, a US Lawmaker, and a False Accusation: What's the Deal?

In the ever-twisting saga of TikTok's presence in the US, a new plot twist has emerged: a US lawmaker making some pretty wild accusations. Buckle up, because it involves memecoins, alleged bribery, and a whole lot of confusion.

The Accusation: A $300 Million Memecoin Bribe?

Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California, recently claimed that TikTok's owners were buying a cool $300 million worth of memecoins associated with former President Donald Trump. His reasoning? He thinks it's a sly attempt to influence discussions about banning the app in the US. Sherman even suggested this acquisition would violate the law requiring ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) to sell its US operations. According to Sherman, Trump granting extensions would be illegal and this whole memecoin thing is a straight-up bribe.

TikTok's Swift Rebuttal

TikTok didn't waste any time clapping back. In a sharp response on X, they called Sherman's claim "patently false and irresponsible." Ouch. They even pointed out that the claim doesn't align with a letter Sherman himself signed last month. It's like they're saying, "Dude, get your facts straight!"

The Real Story: A Case of Mistaken Identity?

Here's where things get interesting. Investigations suggest the actual plan to acquire the TRUMP memecoin is linked to GD Culture Group, a Nasdaq-listed company based in Nevada. This group announced a deal to sell up to $300 million in shares to a British Virgin Islands investor. Part of their treasury strategy? Buying Bitcoin and Trump's official memecoin. The key point here is that despite GD Culture Group working with TikTok on digital and AI services, they have no corporate relationship with ByteDance. Sherman's accusation seems to be directed at the wrong target.

So, What's the Takeaway?

In a world of rapid-fire information and heated debates, this situation highlights the importance of verifying claims before blasting them across social media. It appears a US lawmaker jumped the gun, and spread what seems to be an unconfirmed accusation. Whether intentional or not, such actions can fuel misinformation and damage reputations.

Final Thoughts

In the grand scheme of things, this memecoin melodrama serves as a reminder that not everything you read online is gospel. So, next time you see a juicy accusation, take a beat, do some digging, and remember: sometimes, the truth is stranger (and funnier) than fiction!