US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, stated that the new administration plans to keep TikTok operating in the United States if a viable deal is reached. “We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark,” Waltz told Fox News on Thursday. He emphasized that a 90-day extension, granted by law, could give TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, more time to complete a divestiture.
The 90-day extension is intended to allow ByteDance to find a solution that could ensure TikTok’s continued operation in the US. Waltz confirmed that the extension would help President Trump “buy time” for a potential deal. The popular app is used by over 170 million Americans monthly.
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On the same day, the New York Times reported that President Trump is considering an executive order to allow TikTok to remain in operation despite a pending legal ban. However, it remains unclear if Trump has the legal authority to make such an order, given the divestiture requirements set by Congress.
A group of US lawmakers is pushing for a 270-day extension, warning that a ban could harm Americans who rely on TikTok for their livelihoods. TikTok has yet to comment on the developments.
Legal Developments and Supreme Court Decision
As TikTok faces a potential ban, a US federal law signed in April mandates a ban on new downloads of TikTok on Apple and Google app stores unless ByteDance completes a divestiture. If the ban is implemented, US companies would also be prohibited from supporting TikTok’s services.
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The law allows for a 90-day delay if significant progress is made on a divestiture plan. However, US President Joe Biden has no plans to intervene in the matter unless the Supreme Court acts before the ban takes effect.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is set to attend the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025. This decision has sparked criticism from some lawmakers, including Representative Frank Pallone, who questioned the message it sends about US national security.
The US Supreme Court is currently reviewing the law, which could either uphold the ban or delay its enforcement, as it weighs the future of TikTok’s operations in the country.
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