By our Reporter
President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order granting TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, additional time to secure an approved buyer after the U.S. imposed a federal ban on the app.
The decision comes as millions of TikTok users found themselves unable to access the platform on Sunday, with Google and Apple removing it from their digital stores in compliance with the law.
Trump addressed the situation in a Truth Social post, stating his intention to delay the ban to finalize a deal that protects U.S. national security. “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!” he wrote. “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.”
Under federal law, the president has the authority to grant a 90-day extension if a sale is in progress. Although ByteDance has resisted selling its U.S. operations, Trump proposed a unique solution: a joint venture in which the U.S. would hold a 50% ownership stake. “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” he explained, adding that U.S. approval could make TikTok worth “hundreds of billions, maybe trillions” of dollars.
As of now, TikTok users in the U.S. remain unable to access the platform. Those opening the app are greeted with a pop-up message explaining the ban: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The blackout began Saturday night when Apple and Google removed TikTok and other ByteDance apps from their stores. Despite some alternative apps promoted by influencers, these were also affected by the ban.
The ban’s duration remains uncertain, pending Trump’s planned executive order. With a potential deal in the works, the focus now shifts to whether ByteDance and U.S. investors can reach an agreement to bring TikTok back online.
