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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with U.S. laws requiring its sale or ban, marking a dramatic shift in his stance toward the Chinese-owned platform.
The order, one of several directives issued on Monday evening, halts enforcement of the law passed under former President Joe Biden that led to TikTok’s temporary shutdown for American users over the weekend.
The platform resumed service to its 170 million U.S. users after Trump announced plans for an executive order to delay the ban.
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Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said, “I tell you what. Every rich person has called me about TikTok.” When pressed on why he reversed his earlier efforts to ban the app in 2020, he quipped, “Because I got to use it.”
Trump floated the idea of a joint venture between the U.S. and ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. He proposed a 50-50 partnership but offered no specifics on how such an arrangement would work.
The Biden administration previously pushed for a complete sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations, citing national security risks and concerns that the platform could be used for espionage or political manipulation. However, Trump’s new approach has drawn sharp criticism from his party.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton lambasted the extension, warning of legal and financial repercussions for entities facilitating TikTok’s operations. “Think about it,” Cotton posted on X, highlighting potential liabilities under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state attorney generals’ actions.
Trump’s executive order puts him at odds with many in Congress, including members of his own party who view TikTok as a national security threat.
The controversy hasn’t deterred interest from high-profile individuals and companies looking to acquire TikTok. YouTube star Mr. Beast posted a cryptic TikTok video from a private jet, hinting at a “crazy” offer to buy the platform. Tech moguls like Elon Musk and investor Kevin O’Leary have also expressed interest.
TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, attended Trump’s inauguration on Monday alongside tech industry heavyweights like Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, adding to speculation about the platform’s future.
Source: BBC
