The shutdown of TikTok in the U.S. seemed inevitable, but that might have changed. On Jan. 10, the Supreme Court dismissed TikTok’s attempt to circumvent restrictions, leading many to believe a ban, initially set to take effect on Jan. 19, would occur. However, the outcome is still uncertain.
Trump’s push to ban TikTok. It all began in 2020, during the first mandate of then-President Donald Trump. He threatened to prohibit access to the Chinese app, citing national security concerns. In the end, a complete ban didn’t materialize. Instead, TikTok started collaborating with Oracle to ensure that U.S. user data remained in the country.
Biden revived the debate. In 2024, President Joe Biden’s administration revived discussions about a potential shutdown starting from Sunday, Jan. 19. If enacted, the ban wouldn’t be abrupt. Rather, it’d be phased in gradually.
Looking for a solution. According to The Washington Post, Trump is now exploring the possibility of using an executive order to prevent the ban or sale of TikTok. This action would take place once he returns to the White House and could temporarily suspend the shutdown for 60 to 90 days.
For the fans. Trump remains active on TikTok, where he has 14.8 million followers. In the last few months, he’s frequently shared the message “Save TikTok” from his account. In fact, he shared in December, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok.”
Biden wants to save TikTok, too. Trump initially wanted to shut the app down but is now advocating for its preservation. In an unusual move, Biden is reportedly taking steps in the same direction. NBC quotes a Biden administration official saying, “Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday.”
Stopping the ban won’t be simple. However, some White House officials acknowledge that preventing the ban may not be feasible. “We are not considering deferring enforcement. Statutorily, we don’t believe we have the authority to do that,” an official said, according to NBC.
Options for a buyout appear even more distant. For TikTok to avoid closure, it would need to sell its U.S. division to an American company. While there have been some potential candidates and rumors of a possible purchase by X owner Elon Musk, a potential buyout seems particularly unlikely at this time.
The TikTok CEO’s support for Trump. In other news, TikTok CEO Shou Chew plans to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony alongside tech leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Musk. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has also been invited, which demonstrates the desire among these tech magnates to gain favor with the newly elected president.
Image | Jonathan Kemper
Related | This Is How TikTok Will Die in the U.S.: No Updates, Removal from Stores, and Eventual Shutdown
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