Donald Trump announced that he will sign an executive order to delay a law banning TikTok in the U.S. This law, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld, requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face removal from U.S. app stores. However, Trump intends to extend the deadline, hoping to secure a deal that allows TikTok to remain operational.

Trump’s Plan to Protect TikTok

On his TruthSocial account, Trump urged companies not to let TikTok "stay dark." He explained that the executive order will delay the law’s restrictions and guarantee no liability for companies that help keep TikTok active. Furthermore, Trump proposed that the U.S. should hold a 50% stake in a joint venture with TikTok. He wrote, “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars — maybe trillions.”

TikTok’s Legal Battle

The law, which was passed last year, required ByteDance to sell TikTok by Sunday or be removed from U.S. app stores. TikTok argued that this law violated its First Amendment rights but ultimately lost the case. As a result, the Supreme Court ruled that the law did not infringe on those rights. Following the ruling, TikTok was briefly taken down from app stores but was back online by midday Sunday.

Trump’s Position on TikTok

Trump had previously ordered in 2020 that TikTok be banned unless it separated from ByteDance. However, he reversed his stance last year and now supports keeping TikTok in the U.S. Additionally, Trump has discussed the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hopes to resolve it through collaboration. He mentioned their conversation, saying, "It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately."

Inauguration Day and Key Attendees

On Inauguration Day, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will attend the ceremony. He will not be the only tech executive present, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos are also expected to attend. Both have made significant donations to Trump’s inaugural fund. In a video, Chew thanked Trump, calling the decision “a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.” He emphasized that TikTok provides an important platform for millions of American users and businesses.

Bipartisan Support for the Law

The law received bipartisan support in Congress, passing with a 352-65 vote. President Joe Biden signed the law but decided to leave enforcement up to the incoming Trump administration. The primary aim of the law is to address national security concerns related to ByteDance’s ties with China’s government. Although TikTok argues it is largely owned by global investors, with only a small percentage controlled by its Chinese founders, the law remains in place. Democratic senators attempted to extend the divestiture deadline, but Republicans blocked the effort.

Looking Ahead

As Trump prepares to take office, the future of TikTok remains uncertain. His executive order may provide the breathing room needed to negotiate a solution that allows the app to remain available in the U.S. It will be interesting to see how these discussions unfold and how TikTok’s presence in the U.S. will evolve under the new administration.