President-elect Donald J. Trump announced today that he will issue an executive order to delay a federal ban on TikTok. The announcement came just hours after major app stores removed TikTok and the app stopped working for U.S. users.
Trump Plans Executive Order to Delay TikTok Ban
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline before the ban takes effect. This will give us time to make a deal to protect national security.”
The ban is tied to a 2024 law passed by Congress. The law requires app stores and cloud providers to stop supporting TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. Lawmakers have raised concerns about the Chinese government using TikTok to collect data on Americans or spread propaganda. TikTok has about 170 million users in the U.S.
Companies that fail to follow the law could face heavy fines. In his post, Mr. Trump promised that businesses would not be penalized for keeping TikTok active until his order takes effect. However, he did not give further details about his plan.
It is unclear if Mr. Trump’s order will succeed. Legal challenges are possible, and affected companies may still be hesitant. The 2024 law passed with strong bipartisan support in Congress, reflecting widespread concern about national security risks tied to TikTok.
The app’s sudden removal has caused disruption for millions of U.S. users. The ban has also reignited debates about privacy, free speech, and government control of technology. Supporters of the ban argue that protecting Americans’ data is essential. Critics say the move limits access to a popular platform and sets a dangerous precedent.
Mr. Trump’s executive order aims to give time for a potential solution, such as a sale of TikTok to a U.S.-based company. Whether this move will lead to a resolution or more controversy remains uncertain.
