Following his inauguration, President Donald Trump has extended days before the Tik Tok ban. In the new executive order, TikTok has been given an additional 75 days to comply with a regulation that mandates the platform’s sale or prohibition. Trump stated that the U.S. would not enforce the bill that former President Joe Biden signed into law last year through Congress.
The executive order was one of a number of executive orders that were signed by Trump on the night of Monday, January 20, 2025. During the signing in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I tell you what. Every rich person has called me about TikTok.”
When a reporter asked Trump why he changed his mind about wanting to ban TikTok in 2020, he said, “Because I got to use it.” Trump further hinted at the potential of a joint venture between the United States and its Chinese owner, ByteDance. However, while Trump declared his intention for a 50/50 collaboration, he did not elaborate on how that may operate.
Additionally, Trump threatened to put fresh trade taxes on China in the event that a deal for the platform could not be reached. Trump said, “If Beijing rejected a deal, it would be somewhat of a hostile act.” In March 2024, the Chinese authorities rebuffed a sale proposal, calling the US’s claims “sheer robbers’ logic.”
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Trump’s Executive Order Regarding TikTok
On Monday, January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order effectively delaying TikTok’s ban by 75 days. Speaking in the issued order, Trump wrote, “I have the unique constitutional responsibility for the national security of the United States, the conduct of foreign policy, and other vital executive functions.”
President Trump went further, stating the ban was a result of the Chinese parent company ByteDance’s refusal to sell its interest in TikTok. The order said the decision hinders his ability to assess the implications of the Act’s prohibitions before they occur.
In the executive order, the U.S. attorney general was asked to issue a letter to each [TikTok] provider stating that there has been no violation of the statute. In addition, the order stated there is no liability for any conduct as of January 19, 2025, and during the 75-day extension. With President Trump’s executive order, it has created a series of new legal questions for the short-video platform.
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Following Trump’s executive order, the Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson gave an insight into the situation. Guo Jiakun said, “When it comes to actions such as the operation and acquisition of businesses, we believe they should be independently decided by companies. If it involves Chinese companies, China’s laws and regulations should be observed.”
Why Is There a TikTok Ban in the US?
On the evening of Saturday, January 18, 2025, TikTok was rendered unavailable to American users following the implementation of the bill banning it. However, on January 20, 2025, the video-sharing app restored services to its 170 million users in the US. On Friday, January 17, 2025, the bill enforcing the banning of TikTok was upheld by the Supreme Court.
As a result of the ban coming into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, the Biden administration said its implementation is left to the incoming administration. Following Trump’s announcement upon taking office, a reversal occurred, providing the app with a respite by issuing an executive order.
Tik Tok’s ban was due to concerns by the Biden administration about its potential use by China for political manipulation and espionage. However, the people against the ban have argued for platform availability, stating the right to free expression.
To escape a ban, TikTok’s parent firm, ByteDance, was given the option to sell its stake to a US business. However, ByteDance has refused the clause holding on to its stake. Following Trump’s executive order, several Republican members in Congress have expressed dissatisfaction with the decision.
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What We Know About a TikTok Bill
When it restored service, TikTok said it was reacting to fresh “clarity” from President Trump. According to the 2023 bill, TikTok is required to find a new, non-Chinese owner or risk being banned in America. According to Congress, the parent company, ByteDance, could provide U.S. user data to Beijing that could include location information.
The Congress also cited laws allowing the Chinese government access to data for intelligence purposes. With broad support from both sides and a bipartisan vote of 360-58, the US House of Representatives approved the ban.
After that, the bill passed the Senate with no more than a week’s delay. In February 2023, the Biden administration mandated that all executive branch staff take TikTok off their phones within 30 days.
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