President-elect Donald Trump has said he will likely sign an executive order giving TikTok a 90-day reprieve after taking office on Monday.
In a telephone interview with NBC NewsTrump said he had not yet made a final decision but was considering extending the Sunday deadline for the app.
An extension would give the app’s China-based parent company the chance to sell to a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the United States.
He told the outlet, “I think that would definitely be an option that we’re looking at. The 90 day extension is something that will most likely be done because it is appropriate.
“You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation. If I decide to do so, I will probably announce it on Monday.’
His comments came after the Supreme Court allowed the ban to take effect in the United States on Friday.
The court ruled after TikTok argued that a law banning the app would violate the First Amendment rights of their users.
In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump said he had not yet made a final decision but was considering extending the Sunday deadline for the app.
An extension would give the app’s China-based parent company the chance to sell to a non-Chinese buyer, otherwise it would be subject to a ban across the United States
Last year, Congress passed a law banning TikTok unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells its shares before January 19, 2025.
U.S. officials expressed concern that the wildly popular app is a national security issue related to the collection of U.S. data. But with the clock ticking down on the deadline, no deal has been completed.
TikTok, along with some users and creators, has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the ban. But their attempts were rejected by the lower courts, leaving them no choice but to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case on January 10 and indicated that it would not interfere with the ban that comes into effect on Sunday.
In that decision, the country’s highest court noted on Friday that the provisions of the law in question were substantively neutral and focused on a foreign adversary’s control of a platform rather than specific expressions.
About 170 million Americans use the video app, and some warned that banning the Chinese app would disrupt the businesses and livelihoods of millions of Americans.
The path forward now depends on how the new Trump administration responds, as TikTok CEO Shou Zi will sit in a place of honor along with other tech leaders at the inauguration of President-elect Trump on Monday.
Protesters outside the Supreme Court as it heard oral arguments on the TikTok ban on January 10
Hours after the Supreme Court announced its decision, Trump said he discussed the video-sharing app with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a phone call.
Trump confirmed the call with a message on his Truth Social platform, saying: “The call was a very good call for both China and the US. I expect that we will solve many problems together, and immediately.
“We discussed balancing Commerce, Fentanyl, TikTok and many other topics. President Xi and I will do everything we can to make the world more peaceful and secure!”
Following the Supreme Court ruling, Trump had also said, “The Supreme Court’s decision was expected and everyone should respect it.
“My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I need time to assess the situation. Stay tuned!’