US TikTok Ban Looms As Trump Seeks Last-Ditch Solution
AFP/APP
Washington: TikTok has announced that it will “go dark” in the United States this Sunday, potentially cutting off access to the app for 170 million users, unless the government provides assurances that a law requiring its sale or ban won’t be used to penalize service providers.
After months of legal battles, the US Supreme Court upheld a law that could ban the popular video-sharing platform for national security reasons, unless its Chinese owners strike a deal to sell it to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday.
Just months after strongly supporting the law, lawmakers and officials are now concerned about the potential ban, with attention turning to whether President-elect Donald Trump can intervene to save the app.
TikTok has gained immense popularity, from teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing recipes, and has been credited with turning ordinary users into global celebrities when their videos go viral. Trump has also praised TikTok for connecting him with younger voters during his successful election campaign.
Trump discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, indicating he needs more time to review the situation. He later posted on social media, saying, “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
However, late Friday, TikTok warned that it would cease operations in the US unless the Biden administration provides a definitive statement assuring that the law mandating the platform’s ban will not be enforced. The Biden administration, which is set to transition on Monday, has said it will leave the matter for the incoming government to address.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his willingness to work toward a solution, noting that Trump “truly understands our platform.” TikTok has been lobbying heavily to prevent the law from taking effect, with Chew planning to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The law mandates that Apple and Google remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new downloads. Both companies could face fines of up to $5,000 per user who still accesses the app. Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, would also be legally obligated to enforce the ban. Neither Apple nor Google responded to requests for comment.
The law includes a 90-day delay if the White House can demonstrate progress toward a potential solution, but ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has firmly rejected any sale.
Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has made an offer to purchase TikTok’s US operations and expressed his readiness to work with both the company and President Trump to finalize a deal.
Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, involved in the offer, said ByteDance was offered $20 billion for TikTok’s US business, but acknowledged the ongoing legal uncertainty.
Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the Chamber of Progress, a trade group, warned that the law was designed to be nearly impossible to override by the president. Sarah Kreps, a Cornell University law professor, added that if an executive order contradicts an existing law, the law takes precedence and could lead to the order being struck down by the courts.
If TikTok is forced to shut down, its US competitors, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, are expected to benefit. Meanwhile, many TikTok users have turned to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media app similar to Instagram, with the app becoming the most downloaded in the US Apple Store this week.
