President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday he will issue on Monday an executive order to extend the time that Chinese-owned TikTok has to find a new owner before the social media app becomes permanently banned in the U.S.
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Mr. Trump posted Sunday morning on Truth Social.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” he posted.
TikTok went dark Saturday night on more than 150 million users’ devices in the U.S. ahead of the deadline the ban was to take effect. The app was also removed from app stores.
The law says that if the app, owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, wasn’t sold to an approved buyer in the U.S., it would be banned in the name of national security.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” says a message that pops up as users open the app. “Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the message says. “Please stay tuned!”
The law also grants the ability for the sitting president to give a 90-day extension if there is already a deal underway by the deadline. Mr. Trump said he would grant the extension even though there is no sale in the works, and ByteDance has said it will not sell.
In his post Sunday, the president-elect proposed a “50% ownership position in a joint venture.”
“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to stay up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars — maybe trillions,” Mr. Trump posted.
A bipartisan majority in Congress passed the law in April, and it was quickly signed by President Biden. TikTok’s owners sued, arguing that the ban violates the First Amendment. But the Supreme Court upheld the statute on Friday.
The Biden administration said last week it would not enforce the ban, instead leaving it to Mr. Trump.
“The Administration, like the rest of the country, has awaited the decision just made by the U.S. Supreme Court on the TikTok matter. President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
“Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.