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Executive Order Postponing TikTok Ban Approved by Trump

Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order postponing the planned ban on TikTok, granting a delay.

President Trump has signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law requiring its sale or ban. He announced that during this period, the US will not enforce the law, which was passed last year and signed by former President Joe Biden.

The order was one of several directives signed by Trump on Monday evening. Speaking in the Oval Office, he remarked,

“I tell you what. Every rich person has called me about TikTok.”

When asked why he reversed his stance on TikTok after attempting to ban it in 2020, Trump responded: “Because I got to use it.” He suggested a potential joint venture, proposing a 50-50 partnership between “the United States” and TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, though he did not elaborate on how such an arrangement would work.

Trump also tied the platform’s future to trade negotiations with China, hinting at new tariffs if Beijing rejected a deal.

“It would be somewhat of a hostile act,” he said.

TikTok briefly ceased operations for American users on Saturday when a law banning the app over national security concerns took effect. Services resumed for its 170 million US users after Trump pledged to issue an executive order to delay the ban. However, as of Monday, TikTok was still unavailable for download on Apple and Google app stores.

The Biden administration had argued that TikTok could be exploited by China for spying or political manipulation. Critics of a ban, however, cited free speech concerns.

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, previously ignored a law requiring the sale of its US operations to avoid a ban. This law, upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday, took effect on Sunday. The Biden administration deferred enforcement, leaving it to Trump’s incoming government.

Trump’s order has sparked division within his party. Republican Senator Tom Cotton warned in a post on X that any entity facilitating TikTok could face significant legal and financial consequences. He highlighted potential liabilities from the Department of Justice, securities laws, and state attorneys general.

Meanwhile, interest in TikTok’s acquisition has surged. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew attended Trump’s inauguration on Monday, joining tech leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos.

Earlier Monday, YouTube star Mr Beast shared a TikTok video hinting at an offer to purchase the platform. Billionaires like Musk and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary have also expressed interest in buying TikTok.

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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