U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to issue an executive order upon taking office tomorrow that would allow TikTok to resume operations in the United States. In a bid to safeguard American users, Trump expressed his desire for the U.S. to hold a 50% ownership stake in a potential joint venture with TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok, which has more than 170 million users in the U.S., was recently forced to halt operations due to a new law banning the app, citing national security concerns about the potential misuse of American data by Chinese authorities. The ban has left many users unable to access the app, with other ByteDance-owned apps, including CapCut and Lemon8, also unavailable in U.S. app stores.
Trump’s statement, posted on social media, emphasized his desire to strike a deal that would ensure the app’s continued availability in the U.S. “I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” Trump wrote. The announcement follows comments from his incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, who revealed that Trump has not dismissed the possibility of allowing continued Chinese ownership of TikTok, provided data protection measures, such as firewalls, are put in place to secure U.S. user data.
Waltz further explained that the Trump administration is working on solutions to “save TikTok,” and a temporary extension of the ban may be necessary to allow more time for evaluating potential deals. “Every company in China has some connection to the Chinese Communist Party,” he added, highlighting concerns over national security.
In his Truth Social post, Trump echoed his commitment to resolving the situation, urging his followers to “SAVE TIKTOK!” This call to action followed earlier remarks in which he suggested he would most likely grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve after taking office to allow for further negotiations.
Despite Trump’s promises, TikTok users have been met with a message stating that the platform is temporarily unavailable due to the law banning its operation in the U.S. The company assured users it is working on a solution, hoping for a reinstatement once Trump takes office.
The app’s shutdown follows a law passed last year and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, which required TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or cease its U.S. operations by January 19. The Biden administration has stated that the incoming administration is responsible for taking further action on the matter, increasing the likelihood of a continued shutdown.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the U.S. government’s actions, accusing the U.S. of using “unfair state power” to suppress TikTok. A spokesperson for the embassy warned that China would take “all necessary measures” to protect its rights and interests.