TikTok’s future hangs in the balance as U.S. ban looms
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that could delay the impending U.S. ban on TikTok, giving his administration time to negotiate a deal to keep the app available for its 170 million American users, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The potential order, first reported by The Washington Post, would allow TikTok to operate temporarily while a U.S. buyer is identified. Trump, who previously supported banning the app, has recently expressed a desire to save TikTok. Last June, he posted a video on the platform stating, “I want to save TikTok.”
TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, faces a Sunday deadline to sell its U.S. operations or be banned outright. The Supreme Court is expected to decide soon whether to uphold the ban, enacted under the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act.
The ban would remove TikTok from app stores and potentially make it illegal for U.S.-based companies to support its operations. Existing users might retain access temporarily, but new downloads would be blocked, and U.S.-hosted content could be restricted, degrading the app’s functionality.
If Trump issues an executive order on January 20, it could potentially override the ban, albeit after it has technically taken effect. The move would align with recent calls from lawmakers urging the government to delay the ban.
Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey and Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul have advocated for a 90-day extension, citing the need for significant progress on any sale or legal agreements.
However, ByteDance has been resistant to selling TikTok, particularly its proprietary algorithm, which drives the app’s success.
ByteDance has reportedly prepared to shut down TikTok in the U.S. on Sunday if no resolution is reached. Reuters and other outlets have indicated the company is planning for a temporary shutdown, allowing users to collect their data while restricting video access.
Still, there is hope for a resolution. Recent reports suggest that ByteDance might reconsider selling TikTok, with notable figures like Elon Musk, Kevin O’Leary, and Frank McCourt expressing interest in acquiring the platform.
Musk has been floated as a possible buyer, given his resources and connections to the incoming Trump administration. Meanwhile, O’Leary and McCourt have submitted a $20 billion offer, partially crowdfunded. However, their bid excludes TikTok’s algorithm, which remains a key security concern for U.S. officials.
O’Leary met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week to discuss the proposal, which he says has been shared with ByteDance and U.S. stakeholders.
“If ByteDance chooses to engage, there’s a chance significant progress could be made, potentially delaying the ban,” O’Leary told CNN.
With the ban just days away, TikTok’s fate is uncertain. If Trump intervenes, it could buy the app more time, but significant challenges remain, including ByteDance’s resistance to selling its algorithm and the complexities of transferring operations to a U.S. buyer.
For now, TikTok’s millions of American users are left wondering whether they will still have access to their favorite app come Monday—or whether the ban will mark the beginning of a new chapter in its tumultuous history.