Lagatar24 Desk
Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused the nationwide ban on TikTok, granting its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., an additional 75 days to address national security concerns and negotiate a deal to continue its operations in the US.
The extension, made via an executive order signed on Monday, was among Trump’s first acts after taking office for his second term. It provides a reprieve for the popular video-sharing platform, which faced a looming ban after ByteDance failed to comply with divestment requirements set by US law.
Trump’s Connection to TikTok
“I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok,” Trump remarked at the White House.
Since joining TikTok last year, Trump has gained nearly 15 million followers, attributing the platform to his growing popularity among young voters. However, the app’s 170 million US users experienced a temporary blackout when TikTok went offline for over 12 hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning, coinciding with the prohibition deadline.
Although TikTok’s services resumed after the announcement of the extension, Apple and Google have not yet reinstated the app on their app stores, leaving potential new users without access.
How Did the TikTok Ban Arise?
TikTok gained global fame with its short-form video format and advanced recommendation algorithm. However, concerns about its potential misuse as a tool for Chinese espionage or influence predate Trump’s presidency.
In 2020, Trump issued executive orders banning transactions with ByteDance and the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Although courts blocked those orders, Congress passed a law last year mandating TikTok’s divestment unless ByteDance sold the US operations to an approved buyer.
The law, which took effect on Sunday, imposes fines of up to $5,000 per US user on companies like Apple, Google, and internet service providers if they continue to distribute TikTok without ByteDance’s compliance.
What’s Next for TikTok?
The temporary extension allows TikTok to continue operations while a resolution is negotiated. Business leaders, lawmakers, and influencers are closely monitoring how Trump navigates the legal, financial, and geopolitical complexities surrounding the platform.
Trump said on Sunday he had asked TikTok’s US service providers to support the app while preparations for a new executive order were underway.
The future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, but for now, its millions of users can continue creating, sharing, and engaging on the platform as negotiations proceed.
