TikTok ban: Donald Trump 'likely' to use first day as President to give app extension on ban
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In a surprising move, President-elect Donald Trump revealed today that he's considering issuing an executive order to prevent TikTok from facing a permanent ban in the US. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump voiced plans to extend ByteDance's deadline to sell its popular video-sharing platform TikTok to a US buyer. The announcement came as millions of TikTok users found themselves unable to access the app after it was pulled from Google and Apple stores in compliance with federal law that commanded such action if no sale occurred by Sunday.
Trump's proposed order aims to delay the effects of this law, stating there would be "confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order." Expressing the importance of Americans witnessing Monday's Inauguration and other pivotal moments, he noted the law allows the president to grant a 90-day extension if there's a genuine effort for a sale. Although offers were made, ByteDance had earlier remarked it wasn't looking to sell.
Trump hinted at desiring a "50% ownership position in a joint venture" in his post but left ambiguity hanging over whether he meant government or corporate American ownership. He said his order would "extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect" and "confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.".
"Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations," Trump wrote. The law gives the sitting president authority to grant a 90-day extension if a viable sale is underway. In his post on Sunday, Trump said he "would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture," but it was not immediately clear if he was referring to the government of an American company. "By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up," Trump wrote. "Without US approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars - maybe trillions.".
