President-elect Donald Trump has been dominating the headlines lately since his declaration on TikTok. The video-sharing app is very popular, but it has come under heavy criticism in recent times because of its origin in China.
Through a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump appealed to tech companies “not to let TikTok stay dark,” saying he planned to sign an executive order Monday that would delay a federal ban on the app. This announcement comes hours before he is to be inaugurated as President of the United States.
“I am asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Legal Battle Over TikTok Heats Up Again
The depth of the legal framework is complex: beginning around 2020, with the August order of that year by then-President Trump, who issued an executive order claiming national security concerns and a series of contentious legal battles and legislative efforts to ban TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sold its U.S. operations.
A law enacted in 2024 prohibited TikTok from continuing operations in the U.S. unless it was sold to an American buyer by January 19, 2025. Just before Trump made his announcement, the Supreme Court had ruled to uphold this law, thus essentially setting the stage for a possible ban.
In his recent post, Trump emphasized the urgency of keeping TikTok operational for its approximately 170 million American users. He stated, “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect,” allowing for negotiations that could protect national security while keeping the app alive.
He further claimed that he believes there is a cooperative approach where the U.S. would buy 50% of TikTok, an idea he thinks would stabilize the future of the app and enhance its value greatly.
Presidential Statement on TikTok Acquisition and Inauguration
According to the incoming President, Americans deserve to witness his thrilling Inauguration on Monday, along with other activities and discussions. He further said that he would like to see the US control 50% of the business in a joint venture. “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stand up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”
“Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose,” he concluded.
The proposed executive order is intended to provide legal shields to the tech companies that would help keep TikTok running in this transition period. Trump told these companies there would be “no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order”. This will ease the worries of the app stores and service providers about possibly being penalized for continuing to host or distribute TikTok.
Trump’s Plans Face Legal and Political Hurdles
While the intentions of Trump might go well with millions of users and businesses relying on the popular application, his plans have received much criticism by law experts as unrealistic and probably unlawful.
Critics argue that Trump’s executive order may face significant challenges in court, especially given the recent Supreme Court ruling supporting the ban. Lawmakers who originally supported the legislation have reiterated their stance against any extensions unless there are binding agreements for divestiture in place.
Despite all these, analysts believe that the approach by Trump could point in the short term to a politically charged fight rather than a purely legal one. The situation unfolding largely reflects broader tensions between U.S.-China relations and concerns about data privacy and national security associated with foreign-owned tech platforms.
As Trump prepares for his inauguration, his commitment to keeping TikTok operational illustrates a significant shift from his previous stance on the app. Advocating for a joint ownership model and extending deadlines for compliance with federal laws, Trump is navigating a complex intersection of technology, business interests, and national security concerns.
Time and development will reveal how this executive order plays out in the world and whether it is able to withstand judicial scrutiny while still meeting the needs of American users and businesses in general.
