President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to delay the impending ban on TikTok, creating a window of 2 to 3 months for negotiations with potential U.S. buyers. According to sources cited by the Washington Post, an executive order under consideration could temporarily allow TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users to have continued access to the platform.
Trump, who previously supported a ban on the app during his presidency, has recently shifted his stance. In a TikTok video, he expressed a desire to “save TikTok.” Last month, he requested the Supreme Court to delay the ban, indicating a willingness to find a solution to keep the app operational in the U.S.
The situation is urgent, as TikTok and its parent company ByteDance face a critical deadline on Sunday to secure a sale to a U.S. buyer or risk a complete ban. With the Supreme Court expected to rule on the legality of the ban soon, Trump’s potential executive order could provide some sort of temporary relief.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is under pressure from bipartisan lawmakers to act. They have urged Biden to use the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act. This could grant a 90-day extension if significant progress is made on a sale. However, ByteDance’s reluctance to sell complicates matters, as no binding agreements have been reached.
As the deadline approaches, TikTok has reportedly prepared to shut down U.S. operations, allowing users to retrieve their data but restricting video uploads.
TikTok’s lawyer, Noel Francisco, described the potential shutdown as the app preparing to “go dark.”
Despite this, a future sale could revive TikTok in the U.S., though finding a buyer willing to navigate the app’s regulatory and security concerns remains challenging. ByteDance has resisted selling TikTok’s algorithm, a key to its success. However, potential buyers, including Elon Musk and other high-profile figures, have shown interest. A $20 billion bid by Kevin O’Leary and Frank McCourt has gained attention. Although it excludes the algorithm, this raises further questions about its feasibility.
As the clock ticks, Trump’s potential executive order could offer a temporary reprieve, but TikTok’s future remains uncertain.
