Trump’s Long-Shot Bid for Cut of TikTok Sale Echoes Wall Pledge

A new border wall paid for by Mexican pesos flowing to the U.S. Treasury. Payments for farmers and ranchers funded by tariffs on Chinese goods collected by the federal government. And now, cash to unlock the sale of the viral video platform TikTok in the U.S.

President Donald Trump has frequently depicted himself as standing up for the taxpayer by strong-arming those looking to do business with the U.S. -- whether or not his promises materialize.

His latest demand is for either the Chinese sellers or the American buyers of TikTok’s U.S. operations to pay the U.S. Treasury a fee ...