As the deadline for TikTok’s potential ban in U.S. app stores approaches, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly exploring options to prevent the popular social media app from being removed. Sources familiar with the matter have indicated that Trump is contemplating issuing an executive order to delay the enforcement of a law set to ban TikTok, which is scheduled to take effect on Sunday, January 19.
The Washington Post revealed that Trump is brainstorming various strategies to save the app, which has become a cultural phenomenon in the U.S. The law that is set to ban TikTok was signed by President Joe Biden, and it mandates the removal of the app from U.S. app stores, including those operated by Apple and Google. The legislation is based on concerns over national security, with critics claiming that the app poses a risk due to its ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance. However, TikTok has strongly denied these allegations, maintaining that it operates independently and does not share data with the Chinese government.
One of the strategies Trump is considering is to issue an executive order that would temporarily suspend the law’s enforcement for a period of 60 to 90 days. This executive action would aim to provide more time for potential negotiations or legal challenges. According to one source, Trump would like to be seen as “making a deal” to save the app, reinforcing his image as a negotiator and dealmaker. It remains unclear whether such an executive order could override the legislation passed by Congress, or if it would be sufficient to keep TikTok available in U.S. app stores.
Legal experts have weighed in on the potential implications of a presidential order. Alan Rozenshtein, a former national security adviser to the Justice Department, told the Washington Post that while an executive order may suspend the enforcement of the ban, it would not prevent the app’s eventual removal. Rozenshtein clarified that TikTok would still face a ban, and it would remain illegal for Apple and Google to do business with the company, but the executive order could serve to make Trump’s intentions clearer and more formal.
In addition to Trump’s potential executive action, there have been reports of discussions between Elon Musk and Chinese officials about a possible deal that could see Musk’s X platform—formerly Twitter—taking over TikTok’s U.S. operations. However, a TikTok spokesperson swiftly dismissed the Bloomberg report as “pure fiction” in a statement to Benzinga, casting doubt on the potential acquisition.
Other companies are also exploring ways to capitalize on the situation. Microsoft, Oracle, and a consortium led by “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary are reportedly among the parties showing interest in taking over TikTok’s U.S. operations. These companies could be hoping to acquire the app and alleviate concerns about its ownership while continuing to leverage its vast user base and influence in the social media landscape.
With the January 19 deadline fast approaching, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain. If no deal or executive action is reached by that time, the app will be banned from U.S. app stores, marking the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of TikTok’s troubled relationship with American lawmakers and regulators. For now, all eyes are on Trump and whether his potential executive order will be enough to keep the app in the hands of its millions of American users.
