- Donald Trump hints at a likely 90-day delay for TikTok’s impending U.S. ban, with an announcement expected Monday.
- TikTok warns of a shutdown after the Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to sell the app by January 19.
- ByteDance refuses to seek a buyer, as TikTok criticizes lack of clarity from the outgoing Biden administration.
Donald Trump has indicated he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the nationwide ban set to take effect on Sunday, just a day before he is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said an official announcement on the matter is expected on Monday, his first day in office.
The development follows warnings from TikTok that it would be forced to “go dark” on Sunday unless the outgoing Biden administration provided assurances that the ban would not be enforced.
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On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a law mandating TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform by January 19 to avoid the ban. ByteDance has refused to seek a buyer, escalating tensions.
In a late Friday statement, TikTok criticized the White House and the Department of Justice for failing to offer “the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability.”
But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Saturday that TikTok’s warning it was about to go dark was “a stunt”.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” she said.
“We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.”
Trump revealed on Friday that he had discussed TikTok and other matters in a conversation with China’s President Xi Jinping.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is anticipated to join other tech leaders at Trump’s inauguration on Monday, further highlighting the app’s prominence amid ongoing controversy.
U.S. national security officials have raised concerns that TikTok’s data-gathering capabilities could be exploited by Chinese intelligence to monitor American federal employees and contractors—allegations TikTok has consistently denied.
The Chinese embassy in Washington responded to the developments, accusing the U.S. of unfairly targeting TikTok. “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” a spokesperson said on Friday.
TikTok’s popularity in the U.S. is undeniable, with 170 million users leveraging the platform. Many have lobbied Congress to prevent the app’s shutdown, citing its role in political campaigns, youth engagement, and as a critical tool for small businesses and content creators.
Trump, while previously supporting a ban, has softened his stance, describing a “warm spot” for the app. He highlighted its impact on his last campaign, noting billions of views generated on TikTok.
The law passed in April would require the U.S. version of TikTok to be removed from app stores and web-hosting platforms if ByteDance, its parent company, fails to divest. Content creators reliant on TikTok for income have expressed deep concerns about their livelihoods.
Nicole Bloomgarden, a fashion designer and artist, explained to the BBC how a potential ban could upend her income. “Indirectly, TikTok was the majority of my revenue because all brands want their stuff promoted on the app,” she said.
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TikTok declined to clarify what “going dark” might entail in the U.S., though parallels have been drawn to India’s handling of the platform.
In 2020, following a deadly border skirmish with Chinese forces, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned TikTok and other Chinese apps. Within two weeks, India’s 200 million TikTok users lost access as the app was blocked by internet providers and removed from app stores.
The ban left a gap quickly filled by competitors like Meta’s Instagram Reels and Google’s YouTube Shorts. Meta emerged as the primary beneficiary of TikTok’s absence in India.
