On the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has announced a significant policy shift by granting TikTok a temporary reprieve from a looming ban. Just hours before he was set to take office, Trump declared there would “most likely” be a 90-day extension for the social media platform, known for its short-form video content and facing scrutiny due to its Chinese ownership by ByteDance.
TikTok, which boasts 170 million users in the U.S., had already begun the process of shutting down services on Saturday night as the ban was set to take effect. However, following Trump’s unexpected announcement, the app started to restore its functionalities, much to the relief of its vast user base.
This decision marks a U-turn for Trump, who had once advocated for banning TikTok in the U.S. over national security concerns, particularly regarding data privacy and potential Chinese government access to user information. His change of stance was influenced by the app’s utility during his campaign, where he noted the billions of views his campaign videos garnered on TikTok.
The extension provides a window for negotiations, with Trump’s incoming administration expressing intentions to work with TikTok’s management to find a sustainable solution that would allow the app to continue operating in the U.S. without compromising national security. This could potentially involve divestiture from ByteDance or other measures to ensure data security.
Trump’s decision to extend TikTok’s lifeline comes amidst a flurry of other policy changes. He is poised to sign over 100 executive actions on his first day in office, aiming to undo several policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden. These actions include reversing immigration policies, enhancing border security through measures like wall construction, and promoting U.S. energy independence by lifting restrictions on oil and gas production.
The reprieve for TikTok not only underscores Trump’s pragmatic approach to his relationship with social media platforms but also signals a potential shift in U.S.-China tech relations, highlighting the complexities of balancing national security with economic and cultural ties in the digital age.