U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension on Inauguration Day, which falls on Monday. The decision offers a temporary reprieve for the popular video-sharing app as it faces a potential nationwide ban.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump revealed that while a final decision has not been made, an extension is under serious consideration. “I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump stated. “We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.”
In April 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation passed by both chambers of Congress requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell the app to a non-Chinese company within 270 days. Failure to comply would result in the video app being banned in the United States after January 19, 2025.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, mandating ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company or face a nationwide ban starting on Sunday, just one day before Trump’s inauguration. The ruling escalated pressure on the incoming administration to address the issue promptly.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, the White House issued a statement: “TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law.” The statement acknowledged the timing constraints, adding, “Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.”
TikTok, confronting the imminent ban, announced that it will be forced to shut down its services for the 170 million users in the United States on Sunday unless the Biden Administration provides a “definitive” assurance. “Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19,” the company said.
The situation has raised concerns among TikTok’s vast user base and content creators who rely on the platform for connectivity and income. The app has become a cultural phenomenon, especially among younger audiences, and its potential shutdown could have significant social and economic impacts.
As events unfold, attention turns to the incoming Trump Administration’s approach to resolving the national security concerns while balancing the interests of millions of American users and creators. The possibility of a 90-day extension provides a crucial window for further negotiations and potential resolutions.
The coming days are critical in determining TikTok’s fate in the United States. Stakeholders await definitive actions from the government, hoping for a solution that addresses security concerns without disrupting the platform’s vibrant community.
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Trump says he will 'most likely' give TikTok a 90-day extension
cgtn.com
