Trump signals likely 90-day reprieve for TikTok ban ahead of inauguration

Donald Trump, set to be sworn in as the 47th U.S. president on January 20, has announced that he will "most likely" grant TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid a nationwide ban scheduled for January 19.

Speaking to NBC News, Trump said a decision would be finalized once he assumes office, Caliber.Az reports.

The potential reprieve follows the Supreme Court's January 17 decision to uphold a law mandating TikTok's parent company, China-based ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19. ByteDance has resisted selling the platform, prompting TikTok to warn it could "go dark" unless the Biden administration provided assurances that the ban would not be enforced.

In a phone interview, Trump described the extension as "appropriate" given the platform's significance. "We have to look at it carefully. It's a very big situation," he told NBC, echoing similar remarks to ABC News.

The Biden administration, however, dismissed TikTok's warnings as theatrics. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the platform's January 17 statement as a "stunt," asserting that the incoming administration would handle enforcement of the ban. "TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them," Jean-Pierre said.

TikTok, which has 170 million U.S. users, is facing scrutiny over national security risks. American officials claim Chinese intelligence could exploit the app's data to track federal employees and contractors—allegations TikTok denies.

Chinese officials condemned the U.S. approach, with a spokesperson from Beijing's embassy in Washington vowing to protect China's "legitimate rights and interests."

TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is expected to attend Trump's inauguration, adding another layer of intrigue to the app's future. Meanwhile, the app's possible "dark period" has sparked anxiety among creators and businesses. Fashion designer Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that TikTok accounts for the majority of her income, as brands increasingly favor its reach.

TikTok's uncertain fate in the U.S. mirrors its 2020 ban in India. Following a deadly border clash with China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government banned dozens of Chinese apps, including TikTok, cutting off 200 million users. In India's absence, platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts have risen as dominant players, with Meta emerging as the primary beneficiary.

By Khagan Isayev