In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump signaled his intention to grant TikTok a 90-day extension as his incoming administration evaluates the situation following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal ban on the app.
“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully,” Trump said during a phone call with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker. He referred to the ongoing situation as a “very big” issue and stated that a final decision would “probably” be announced on Monday, the day he is sworn in for a second term as President.
The extension, permitted under a bipartisan bill passed by Congress last April, provides ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, additional time to divest from the app. Under the terms of the legislation, ByteDance was initially given 270 days to complete this divestiture or face removal of TikTok from U.S. app stores.
TikTok’s Warning Sparks White House Response
On Saturday, TikTok issued a statement warning that it would “go dark” on Sunday unless outgoing President Joe Biden intervened. The White House, however, dismissed the company’s warning as unnecessary.
“It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
A New Chapter for TikTok
President-elect Trump’s remarks suggest that the TikTok ban, a source of heated debate and public attention in recent months, will fall squarely under the purview of his administration. On Friday, Trump emphasized that he would make a decision on TikTok’s future after taking office.
The impending extension would provide additional time for ByteDance to navigate compliance with U.S. government demands or explore alternative solutions, as the federal ban hangs in the balance.
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