The fate of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain as President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, indicated on Thursday that the app could be spared from a looming ban if a viable deal is reached. Waltz emphasized that the administration is prepared to extend measures to keep TikTok operational.
Speaking to Fox News, Waltz explained that legal provisions allow for a 90-day extension for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to finalize a divestiture. “We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark, as long as a viable deal is on the table,” he said. This extension, he noted, would grant President Trump time to maintain TikTok’s availability to its 170 million monthly U.S. users.
Trump Considers Executive Action
The New York Times reported that President Trump is contemplating an executive order to temporarily preserve TikTok’s operations despite a pending federal ban. However, it remains unclear whether Trump has the authority to override the legal divestiture mandates imposed by Congress.
The potential ban, set to take effect on Sunday, would prohibit new TikTok downloads from Apple and Google app stores. Existing users could continue to access the app, but U.S. companies would be barred from providing support for updates or maintenance. TikTok has not commented on the situation.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, reaffirmed the president’s commitment to finding a solution. “President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to save TikTok, and there’s no better dealmaker than Donald Trump,” she stated.
Push for Extended Timeline
A group of U.S. lawmakers is advocating for a 270-day extension to avoid a ban that could impact Americans who rely on TikTok for their livelihood. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that TikTok is preparing to shut down its U.S. operations unless a last-minute reprieve is secured.
A White House official clarified that President Joe Biden, in his final days in office, has no plans to block the ban unless ByteDance presents a credible divestiture plan. The law signed in April mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok or face operational restrictions.
Under the law, the president has a one-time authority to delay the ban by 90 days, provided there is significant evidence of progress toward divestiture. For now, TikTok’s fate hinges on legal and administrative developments in the coming days, with millions of users and content creators awaiting clarity.
