Key Highlights
- Trump delays TikTok’s U.S. ban for 75 days
- TikTok resumes after Trump assures no penalties
- ByteDance must sell TikTok’s U.S. assets
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday granting TikTok a 75-day extension before enforcement of its U.S. ban begins. The decision has temporarily saved the platform, providing ByteDance more time to negotiate a sale or address national security concerns tied to the app’s Chinese ownership.
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Why The Ban Was Delayed
The Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, signed into law in April by former President Joe Biden, required TikTok to be banned starting January 19 unless ByteDance sold its U.S. operations. However, Trump’s executive order emphasized the timing of the law conflicted with his ability to assess the platform’s implications or seek alternatives.
The 75-day extension allows the administration to evaluate security risks and potentially negotiate a resolution to avoid a sudden shutdown of the app which is widely used by millions of Americans.
Trump’s Changing Stance On TikTok
Trump cited his personal experience using TikTok as a reason for reconsidering the ban. “TikTok is largely about kids,” Trump said, questioning whether China gaining access to young users’ data was a significant issue compared to other national security concerns.
He also suggested that a partial sale to an American buyer could be a viable solution, proposing a 50-50 joint venture with ByteDance. However, it remains unclear whether this would satisfy the legal requirements of the bipartisan law.
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TikTok’s Temporary Return
TikTok briefly shut down access to its U.S. users over the weekend, citing concerns that its technology partners, such as Oracle, Apple, and Google might face penalties. The company resumed operations after Trump assured no immediate fines or enforcement actions against these partners.
TikTok’s CEO expressed gratitude, stating the company would work with the administration to secure a long-term solution. Many users, influencers, and creators welcomed the app’s return, though some criticized the situation as political theatrics.
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