President-elect Donald Trump indicated in a phone interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker on Saturday that he is likely to grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a potential ban in the U.S. after assuming office on Monday. Trump mentioned that while a final decision had not been made, he was contemplating extending the deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell to a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the U.S.
Trump stated that a 90-day extension was under consideration and would likely be implemented as it was deemed appropriate after careful consideration of the situation. He mentioned that if he decides to proceed with the extension, he would announce it on Monday.
The fate of TikTok has been a significant concern in the final days of the Biden administration, with many of the app’s U.S. users eagerly awaiting a resolution. The Biden administration has deferred the responsibility of enforcing the law to Trump, while TikTok expressed concerns about potential shutdown unless greater clarity and assurance were provided regarding legal implications.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized TikTok’s plans to go dark as a “stunt” and emphasized that actions to implement the law would be the responsibility of the incoming administration. President Joe Biden signed a law last April requiring TikTok’s parent company to sell to a non-Chinese buyer or face a nationwide prohibition in the U.S.
Trump’s recent support for TikTok marks a shift from his previous stance during his first term when he attempted to ban the app. Lawmakers have raised concerns about ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government and the app’s data collection practices. Despite protests from TikTok’s fans, the Supreme Court upheld the law, rejecting the app’s free speech arguments.
Trump has expressed interest in finding alternative solutions to banning TikTok and has signaled support for allowing the app to remain available in the U.S. TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony, and the app’s future remains uncertain pending further developments. The Biden administration officials indicated that they would not enforce the law on the last day of Biden’s term, leading to uncertainty about TikTok’s availability in the U.S.
