
President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he may suspend the TikTok ban for 90 days, pushing back the deadline for a US-based entity to purchase the social media app. In an interview with NBC News, Trump suggested he would likely announce the extension on Monday.
Earlier, TikTok announced it would "go dark" on Sunday, but the law allows the president to issue a one-time 90-day extension if significant progress is made toward a sale.
Biden administration's stance on TikTok ban
The Biden administration stated that any actions implementing a ban would fall to the next administration, emphasising that TikTok should remain available to Americans if under American ownership or other ownership addressing national security concerns.
However, following months of legislative discussions, TikTok is preparing to shut down operations in the US on Sunday, January 19. Reports suggest the platform might be sold to billionaire Elon Musk.
According to Reuters, if no last-minute intervention occurs, the ban would be implemented on Sunday, affecting around 170 million American users. Sources indicate that President-elect Trump, who would take office the day after the ban, is considering delaying TikTok's shutdown for 60 to 90 days.
Moreover, the law had set January 19 as the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest the app to a US-based company.
Users who have already downloaded TikTok can still use it, but the law prohibits companies from facilitating the app's functionality, maintenance, or updates.
While the Trump administration has not confirmed the temporary cancellation of the ban, Trump mentioned needing time after taking office to pursue a political resolution. The situation remains fluid, with potential changes expected in the coming days.