Trump Pauses Enforcement of TikTok Ban to Try Saving App in US
President Donald Trump directed DOJ Jan. 20 to hold off for 75 days on enforcing a law that called for China’s ByteDance to divest TikTok by Jan. 19 or face a ban of the popular social media application in the U.S.
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In an executive order, Trump said the “unfortunate timing” of the TikTok law, which took effect one day before he returned to the presidency, interferes with his ability to assess the law’s implications. He said he plans to consult with his advisers and “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.” The review will include an evaluation of the "mitigation measures" TikTok has already taken to address national security concerns about the app.
TikTok announced Jan. 17 that it would be shutting down to comply with the divest-or-ban law, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld earlier in the day (see 2501170063). But two days later, TikTok reversed course, saying it was restoring service after receiving assurances from Trump that the ban would not be immediately enforced.
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship,” TikTok said. “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
It is unclear what a resolution might look like. TikTok said last year that it would not be possible for ByteDance to divest the app, partly because the Chinese government wouldn’t permit it (see 2405070049). That has not ended talk about a potential deal, however. A consortium of American investors led by Employer.com founder and CEO Jesse Tinsley announced Jan. 19 that it has put together an all-cash offer to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced a bill Jan. 20 to repeal the TikTok law, which they believe infringes on free speech. But their proposal faces an uphill battle, as Congress passed the law by wide margins in April before it was signed by President Joe Biden (see 2404240043). Proponents of the law said the Chinese government could use TikTok to spread anti-U.S. propaganda and gain access to U.S. users' personal information.