President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday he will issue an executive order Monday granting TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, more time to find an approved buyer before the popular video-sharing app faces a permanent U.S. ban.
The announcement follows the app’s removal from Apple and Google digital stores in compliance with a federal law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations by Sunday due to national security concerns. Millions of users in the United States reported they could no longer access the app as of Saturday night.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said his order would “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect” and ensure that companies maintaining TikTok services before the executive order would not face legal liability.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump wrote.
The law, passed with bipartisan support in April and signed by President Joe Biden, allows the sitting president to grant a 90-day extension if credible negotiations for a sale are underway. ByteDance has declined to sell TikTok despite receiving offers, with Trump suggesting Sunday that he favors a joint venture with 50% U.S. ownership, though specifics were unclear.
“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” Trump said. “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it could be worth trillions.”
The federal law stems from concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership and potential risks to national security. ByteDance’s legal challenge to the ban on First Amendment grounds was dismissed last week when the Supreme Court upheld the statute.
On Saturday night, TikTok users attempting to access the platform were met with a message explaining the app’s unavailability due to the law. The ban prevents app store downloads but allows users with existing installations to retain access temporarily. Experts said updates to the app would eventually cease.
Content creator Tiffany Watson, 20, expressed frustration over the disruption, noting she plans to shift her focus to Instagram and YouTube.
“The community on TikTok is like nothing else, so it’s weird to not have that anymore,” Watson said Sunday.
Incoming TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration Monday. In a video posted Saturday, Chew thanked Trump for his commitment to resolving the issue and preserving the platform for its 170 million U.S. users.
Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Michael Waltz, confirmed the president-elect discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the weekend. The two leaders reportedly agreed to work together to resolve the situation.
Investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok’s U.S. operations. ByteDance, however, has yet to identify a clear buyer.
TikTok’s suspension has drawn criticism in China, where commentators accused the U.S. of suppressing free speech. Hu Xijin, a former editor at the state-run Global Times, said the ban marked “the darkest moment in the development of the internet.”
TikTok does not operate in China, where ByteDance runs Douyin, a similar app subject to Beijing’s censorship laws.
While Trump’s executive order aims to facilitate negotiations and prevent TikTok from going permanently offline, the controversy highlights the ongoing tension between technology, national security, and free speech.
