CALIFORNIA: Twitter discussed a “potential combination” with China-based TikTok, currently facing immense political heat in the US, a new report has claimed.

According to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter, “Twitter Inc. has had preliminary talks about a potential combination with TikTok”.

“It is unclear whether Twitter will pursue a deal with TikTok, which would face significant challenges,” the report claimed on Saturday.

TikTok said it was “shocked” by the recent executive order, which it said “was issued without any due process.”

In the executive order “addressing the threat posed by TikTok”, Trump said the spread in the US of mobile applications developed and owned by Chinese companies “continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”

“At this time, action must be taken to address the threat posed by one mobile application in particular, TikTok,” said the order

Officials of the Trump administration earlier alleged that the Chinese government could have access to TikTok’s user data.

(With inputs from Agencies)