Former President Donald Trump has promised to prolong the deadline for a potential ban on TikTok until a deal is reached to transition the China-owned app to U.S. ownership. In a Sunday interview, he mentioned having a “warm place” in his heart for TikTok.
“I want to pursue this. There’s this young man who scored 36 points, and that gives me a bit of a soft spot…so, I’m really focused on TikTok,” Trump told Kristen Welker during an appearance on “Meet the Press.”
Meanwhile, President Biden has enacted a law referred to as the “TikTok prohibition,” which mandates that the app’s parent company, associated with the Chinese Communist Party, must sell its shares by January 19, 2025, unless they are acquired by a U.S. firm.
Initially, Trump had extended a 75-day ban through an executive order on his first day in office, and he reaffirmed this ban in April.
“We shouldn’t probably mention this, but there’s a bit of a warmer spot in TikTok’s mindset,” Trump remarked on Sunday.
When the new law was about to be enforced, TikTok temporarily halted its services on January 19. Consequently, Apple and Google removed the app from their stores.
“We appreciate your support as the U.S. law takes effect, which has made our services unavailable temporarily. We’re working as quickly as possible to restore them in the U.S.,” read a statement from TikTok.
The app, with around 170 million users in the U.S., will display a pop-up message in the meantime.
After Trump mentioned his Truth Social pledge to extend the ban, TikTok resumed services the following day, aiming to protect businesses associated with the app from potential liabilities.
TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump when normal operations resumed amid the presidential campaign, and Apple and Google later reinstated the app in their stores.
Trump assured Welker that the app would be “protected,” emphasizing the need for a definitive resolution regarding TikTok’s future.
Critics of TikTok have raised concerns about foreign surveillance risks and its potential negative impact on the mental health of young users. Trump has downplayed these risks in recent months.
“Is it really that crucial for China to spy on kids watching silly videos?” he questioned during a discussion with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in January.
