President-elect Donald Trump is expected to grant TikTok a 90-day extension before implementing the app's ban, according to a Saturday interview. This decision comes amidst a complex legal and political landscape surrounding national security concerns, free speech arguments, and TikTok's immense popularity in the U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump declared in an interview with NBC News on Saturday that he would 'most likely' grant TikTok a 90-day extension before enforcing the app's ban. 'I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate. You know, it's appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It's a very big situation,' Trump stated during a phone conversation with NBC's Kristen Welker.
Newsweek reached out to both the Trump transition team and TikTok on Sunday for comment.This decision carries significant geopolitical and cultural weight. Lawmakers advocating for TikTok's sale or ban have raised national security concerns, pointing to ByteDance's ties with the Chinese government and the app's data collection practices. Critics warn of potential propaganda risks and emphasize the need to protect American users' information. The Biden administration's choice to defer enforcement to Trump has intensified these tensions. While Biden signed the law mandating the sale, his administration's reluctance to enforce it reflects a broader struggle to balance security concerns with TikTok's immense popularity and economic influence. Defenders of the app also highlight free speech concerns.Trump indicated he would finalize his decision on Monday, his first day in office, acknowledging that a short-term extension would provide time to navigate the intricate legal and financial landscape surrounding TikTok's divestiture. This announcement follows a Supreme Court ruling upholding the law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer by January 19. Both the Biden administration and President-elect Trump's team have expressed a desire to avoid disrupting TikTok's access to over 170 million American users, although no definitive legal agreements have been made public. Under the current law, the president can grant a one-time 90-day extension if they certify to Congress that a path to divestiture exists, significant progress has been made, and relevant legal agreements are in place. Trump's administration faces a tight timeline, as TikTok has indicated it may temporarily cease operations in the U.S. on Sunday due to a lack of assurances regarding the ban's enforcement. In recent months, Trump's stance on TikTok has evolved. During his first term, he signed executive orders to ban the app, which were later blocked by courts. His change in position followed meetings with American investors and public acknowledgment of TikTok's role in his political outreach during the 2024 election
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