In a bid to prevent the enforced ban on TikTok in the United States, US President Donald Trump ordered a 75-day pause on the enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This law, which was set to take effect on January 19, 2025, would have prohibited the distribution and updating of TikTok in the country.
Trump, who had previously attempted to ban TikTok on national security grounds, expressed his intent to broker a partnership between the United States and TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. He floated the idea of creating a 50-50 partnership, though details on how this would be implemented were not provided. Trump shared with reporters that he had developed a fondness for the app, crediting TikTok for helping him secure the youth vote during his election campaign.
The law had been passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, driven by concerns that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to spy on Americans or manipulate public opinion. As the January deadline approached, TikTok services in the US were temporarily suspended, leaving millions of users dismayed.
Trump’s executive order came swiftly after his inauguration, aimed at delaying the ban and allowing time for a deal to be negotiated. Following his directive, TikTok resumed operations in the US on Sunday, with the company crediting Trump’s intervention for the reversal. The Biden administration had previously stated it would not enforce the ban.
Trump’s plan to save TikTok involved establishing a joint venture between US companies and ByteDance, potentially increasing the app’s valuation to one trillion dollars. He emphasized that he had the power to either sell or shut down TikTok but hinted at potential negotiations with China to make the deal work.
The executive order also outlined the process for the Attorney General to issue guidance on the pause and ensure that service providers, including tech giants like Apple and Google, would not face penalties for continuing to host or update TikTok during this period. The order was designed to give the new administration time to address national security concerns while safeguarding the platform used by millions of Americans.
