President Donald Trump has indicated that he will “most likely” extend the deadline for TikTok by 90 days to avoid its ban in the United States. This statement was made during an NBC News interview Sunday, just before his inauguration on Monday.
Trump acknowledged that he hasn’t made a final decision but highlighted the complexity of the situation, suggesting that an extension might be “appropriate.” He mentioned that any decision on this matter would probably be announced on his first day in office.
This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law set to ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell its U.S. operations to an approved buyer by Sunday. The law, passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, gives the sitting president the authority to grant a 90-day extension if there is significant progress towards a sale.
Despite Trump’s earlier administration’s efforts to ban TikTok over national security concerns, his stance has shifted. This change might be influenced by his recent engagement with TikTok for political campaigning, gaining significant traction among younger voters.
The Biden administration has stated it would not enforce the ban in its final days, leaving the decision to Trump. Meanwhile, TikTok has warned of potential service disruption if there isn’t a clear assurance from the government, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
This move has been met with mixed reactions online, with some seeing it as a softening stance towards China, while others view it as an opportunity for TikTok to sort out its ownership issues.
The exact terms of any extension or the conditions TikTok might need to meet are not yet public, but the focus remains on finding a legal and acceptable solution for TikTok’s operations in the U.S.
Article generated from legacy media reports.
