Catenaa, Tuesday, January 21, 2025 – President Donald Trump has signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day reprieve from a US law requiring its sale or ban, marking a reversal of his stance on the Chinese-owned app.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump hinted at a potential joint venture between the US and ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, though details remain unclear. “Every rich person has called me about TikTok,” Trump said, acknowledging his softened position since attempting to ban the platform in 2020.
TikTok, which briefly ceased operations for US users after a Supreme Court decision upheld the law banning it on national security grounds, resumed services Monday.
However, the app remains unavailable for download on Apple and Google stores.
The Biden administration, which previously cited “national security risks” associated with TikTok, left implementation of the ban to the Trump administration. Trump’s move has drawn criticism from Republicans, including Senator Tom Cotton, who warned of fines for companies facilitating TikTok’s operations.
Trump’s executive order raises questions about potential trade tariffs on China, contingent on an agreement over the platform’s ownership.
The decision comes amid ongoing interest from billionaires and corporations, with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and tech moguls like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos attending Trump’s inauguration Monday.
