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Trump To Issue Executive Order Extending TikTok Ban Deadline

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Trump To Issue Executive Order Extending TikTok Ban Deadline

President-elect Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order on Monday, January 20, to extend the deadline for the TikTok ban, Reuters reports. This move signals a potential lifeline for the social media platform used by over 170 million Americans.

“Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump stated during a pre-inauguration rally on Sunday, Jan. 19. He also proposed a joint venture structure that would grant 50% U.S. ownership of TikTok, as outlined in posts on his Truth Social platform.

TikTok Services Begin Limited Restoration

TikTok started restoring limited services on Sunday, Jan. 19, after users experienced widespread outages following the enforcement of a congressional ban. The platform remains unavailable on U.S. app stores, but some basic app functions and the website have shown signs of recovery.

In a statement, TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties” for maintaining service to users and 7 million small businesses. The company also confirmed its efforts to restore operations fully.

China and U.S. Lawmakers Respond

China’s foreign ministry has reacted positively, urging the U.S. to “listen to the voice of reason” and ensure fair treatment of companies operating in the country. Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted TikTok’s longstanding popularity among American users.

However, some Republican lawmakers remain opposed to delaying the ban. Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts insist that ByteDance must divest entirely from TikTok to meet legal requirements. They argue there is no legal basis for extending the deadline.

TikTok’s Economic Impact and Potential Buyers

The ongoing TikTok saga has triggered widespread interest among potential buyers, with analysts valuing the platform’s U.S. operations at up to $50 billion. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has expressed interest, while unverified reports suggest Elon Musk may also be exploring a deal. ByteDance has denied these claims.

Reuters notes that searches for “VPN” surged on Google following TikTok’s service interruptions, highlighting users’ efforts to access the platform during the ban. Marketing executives called the outage a “hair-on-fire moment,” prompting companies to develop contingency plans.

Meanwhile, search engine startup Perplexity AI has reportedly proposed a merger with ByteDance to combine TikTok’s U.S. operations with additional partners. ByteDance’s ownership structure includes 60% institutional investors such as BlackRock and General Atlantic, with the remaining shares divided equally between founders and employees.

Impact on Other ByteDance Apps

The congressional ban has also affected other ByteDance properties, including the video editing app CapCut and the social platform Lemon8, which are now unavailable in U.S. app stores. The legislation grants the incoming Trump administration broad authority to regulate or divest other Chinese-owned applications.

A Shift in Trump’s Approach to TikTok

This development represents a turnaround for Trump, who attempted to ban TikTok over national security concerns about data handling during his first term. Recently, Trump has credited TikTok for helping him connect with younger voters during the 2024 presidential election.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration and pre-inauguration rally, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The company sponsored a $50,000 inauguration celebration on January 19, honoring social media influencers who supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. 

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Dragomir is a Serbian freelance blog writer and translator. He is passionate about covering insightful stories and exploring topics such as influencer marketing, the creator economy, technology, business, and cyber fraud.

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