On Monday, newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order postponing the enforcement of a TikTok ban by 75 days. This decision temporarily halts the application of the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a law signed into effect in April by former President Joe Biden, which mandated the removal of TikTok from the United States unless its ownership was transferred to a buyer from the U.S. or an allied nation.
In the executive order, President Trump cited concerns over the timing of the Act, which was set to take effect on January 19—just one day before his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. He expressed the need for a thorough evaluation of the national security and foreign policy implications of the law before proceeding with its enforcement.
“The unfortunate timing of section 2(a) of the Act interferes with my ability to assess its implications and negotiate a resolution that addresses national security concerns while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of the TikTok platform,” Trump stated in the document.
The 75-day delay, according to the order, will enable the administration to determine a measured course of action that safeguards national security without unnecessarily disrupting a platform used by millions of Americans.
When questioned about his change in stance on TikTok, President Trump acknowledged his personal experience with the platform.
“TikTok is largely about kids, young kids,” he said during a media briefing in the Oval Office. “If China is extracting information about young kids from it, I think we have more significant issues to address.”
The President also clarified his executive authority concerning TikTok, noting, “I have the right to either facilitate its sale or close it. We will make that determination in due course.”
Despite the temporary reprieve, TikTok's future in the U.S. remains uncertain. There is no clarity on whether ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, would be willing to sell the platform, even under a deal negotiated by the Trump administration.
TikTok restored access for U.S. users on Sunday afternoon, attributing this decision to the President’s actions. “We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for supporting TikTok during this period,” the company said in a statement.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to finding a balanced solution. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the time before the law’s prohibitions take effect. This will give us room to negotiate a deal that protects national security,” he wrote.
Trump further assured that no liability would be imposed on TikTok’s technology partners, including Apple, Google, and Oracle, for continuing to support the app during this interim period.
TikTok pledged to collaborate with the administration on a long-term resolution. “We will work with President Trump to ensure TikTok remains accessible in the United States while addressing any concerns about national security,” the company stated.