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President-elect Donald Trump said he would “likely” extend the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the video app, which faces a nationwide ban set to take effect Sunday.
President Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he is considering extending the deadline by 90 days. His comments come after the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Divestiture and Ban Act, which Congress passed last year to address China-related national security concerns. The announcement comes a day after users warned they would face an impending power outage.
“The 90-day extension is appropriate and will most likely be implemented,” Trump said. “We’ll have to think about it carefully. It’s a very big situation. . . . If we decide to do that, we’ll probably make an announcement on Monday.”
On Friday, President Trump said he met with President Xi Jinping and discussed TikTok with the Chinese leader. Chinese state media reported that the two leaders met, but did not say whether TikTok was included in the meeting.
The Biden administration announced Friday that it would leave decisions on implementing the law, which goes into effect at midnight ET Saturday, to the incoming administration.
That means video platform companies like Apple, Google and Oracle will have to decide between the midnight deadline and Trump’s inauguration Monday whether to risk breaking the law. It will be.
Apple and Oracle declined to comment, while Google did not immediately respond.
TikTok said the Biden administration had “failed to provide the necessary clarity” and that unless there was a “clear statement guaranteeing non-compliance that satisfies our most critical service providers,” the app would be closed on Jan. 19. It will be suspended,” he warned.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Saturday called TikTok’s warning a “stunt.”
“I see no reason for TikTok or any other company to take action in the days leading up to the Trump administration’s inauguration on Monday,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
“We have stated our position clearly and openly, and it will be up to the next administration to take action to implement this law. TikTok and other companies should therefore take any concerns to heart.”
One of the people familiar with the situation said Biden administration lawyers are “fully committed” to enforcing the law. However, because the Supreme Court’s decision was handed down 48 hours before the deadline, Justice Department officials expected it would take time to work with service providers on timely compliance plans. The Justice Department said Friday that enforcing the law and ensuring compliance is a “slow process.”
Last March, Congress passed a law in an overwhelming bipartisan vote that would require ByteDance to sell TikTok to avoid a nationwide ban on the app.
Lawmakers and U.S. security officials believe that Chinese ownership of the app poses a national security risk because it could be used by the Chinese Communist Party for espionage and disinformation. There is. TikTok has denied that the Chinese government has any influence over the app.
During his first term, President Trump issued an executive order blocking TikTok from operating in the United States, but it was blocked at the last minute by a court. In early 2024, he was banned from Facebook’s social media platform for two years after he opposed Congress’ divestment and ban action on the grounds that it would help Facebook.
President Trump has appointed several China hawks to his administration who oppose China’s ownership of TikTok, including former Green Beret and Florida congressman Mike Walz, who will become national security adviser.
Walz said earlier this week that the incoming administration would take “steps to prevent TikTok from going dark” and that the bill allows for an extension as long as a “viable deal” is considered.
Following TikTok’s statement on Friday, former Biden administration Chinese official Rush Doshi wrote to X that the company has nothing but responsibility.
“TikTok could not have been run by China because they had to sell themselves within 268 days. That would have solved everything. But they didn’t even try. will not be allowed,” Doshi said.
“Now that time is running out, they want Biden to ignore the bipartisan law that SCOTUS (U.S. Supreme Court) upheld 9-0. If they shut down, that’s on them.”
Additional reporting by Hannah Murphy and Michael Acton
