Speaker Mike Johnson clarified on Sunday that President-elect Donald Trump would not be able to bring TikTok back early in his second term without the company’s willingness to sell to a U.S.-based owner. Johnson stated during an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the law would be enforced, following Trump’s announcement to potentially grant TikTok a 90-day extension to operate in the U.S.
Johnson’s comments came after TikTok ceased operations in the U.S., leading to the removal of the app from app stores by Apple, Google, and Microsoft. A bipartisan bill signed by President Joe Biden last year took effect on Sunday, effectively banning TikTok from the U.S. unless it is sold to a U.S.-based owner, as the app is currently owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
Despite Trump’s previous support for banning TikTok, he now favors allowing the app to continue operating in the U.S. Trump’s team had requested the Supreme Court to pause the law to provide time for his administration to find a solution before the ban took effect.
Johnson highlighted that Trump’s recent statements regarding TikTok suggest a plan to bring back the app through a sale rather than its current operation. Concerns raised by members of Congress revolve around the Chinese Communist Party’s influence on the app’s algorithms, which disseminate harmful content to American users and collect data from citizens.
Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts expressed support for the app’s ban and urged other companies to comply with the law. They emphasized that for TikTok to return, ByteDance must agree to a sale that severs all ties with Communist China, as mandated by the law.
The law stipulates that the President can grant a 90-day extension only if there is evidence of progress towards a sale that meets the divestiture requirements. Johnson emphasized the need for a concrete deal in place for any extension to be considered, expressing hope that a resolution can be reached to ensure the safety of TikTok users’ data.
