As promised, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday delaying enforcement of the TikTok ban for 75 days. The move temporarily halts the application of the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which requires TikTok to sell its U.S. operations to an American or allied buyer due to national security concerns.
The law, signed by former President Joe Biden in April, mandated TikTok’s ban in the U.S. starting January 19 unless ByteDance, its China-based parent company, divested its American operations. Trump's executive action cited the timing of the law’s enforcement—one day before his inauguration as the 47th president—as a key reason for the delay.
“This timing interferes with my ability to assess the national security and foreign policy implications of the Act’s prohibitions before they take effect,” Trump stated in the order. He added that the delay would allow his administration to negotiate a resolution that addresses security concerns without abruptly shutting down a platform used by millions of Americans.
TikTok Resumes U.S. Operations After Temporary Shutdown
TikTok restored access for U.S. users on Sunday afternoon following a brief 14-hour shutdown that began Saturday night. The platform credited Trump’s announcement for its return, as he assured technology partners like Apple, Google, and Oracle that they would not face penalties for supporting the app while negotiations were ongoing.
In a statement, TikTok thanked Trump for providing clarity. "We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States," the company said. Trump, in turn, suggested that TikTok could be sold to an American buyer, potentially as part of a joint venture with ByteDance.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew praised the president, saying, “We are grateful to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform and its value.”
Mixed Reactions from Users and Lawmakers
TikTok's brief shutdown caused frustration among its 170 million U.S. users, many of whom rely on the app for income and community. Influencer Shay Sullivan, who has over a million followers, described the rollercoaster weekend: “I felt like I lost a whole community and a job, but now I’m overjoyed.”
However, some users criticized the shutdown as political theater. “Why is everyone thanking Trump for saving TikTok when he was the one who put it at risk in the first place?” one user questioned.
ByteDance’s Next Move and the Uncertain Future
Despite Trump’s extension, the law still requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations. So far, ByteDance has resisted selling, particularly its proprietary algorithm, which powers the app’s recommendation system and makes it so popular.
Two buyer groups have already submitted formal bids, including one led by billionaire Frank McCourt and "Shark Tank" star Kevin O’Leary. McCourt’s group has proposed purchasing TikTok’s U.S. assets without the algorithm, intending to rebuild it. Meanwhile, reports suggest other parties, including Elon Musk, have shown interest, although TikTok dismissed these claims as “fiction.”
If a deal is reached within the 75-day extension, Trump could argue that substantial progress has been made to justify delaying the ban further. However, without a resolution, TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, leaving millions of users and influencers in limbo.
Source: CNN
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