FOX News Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy asked President Trump what was behind his desire to save TikTok, which he once considered the popular app to be a spy for China.
President Trump opted to extend the ban on TikTok for 75 days in an executive order on Monday, one of the first moves of his new administration.
Trump signed the order from the Oval Office hours after taking office for his second term. The move came days after the Supreme Court upheld the ban.
The order comes days after TikTok was briefly taken offline for U.S. users and comes after President Trump said he has an interest in keeping the app accessible even if it is not wholly owned by a U.S. company. It was issued even after hinting.
In his executive order, Trump wrote that he has “unique constitutional responsibilities for the national security of the United States, the conduct of foreign policy, and other important executive functions.”
President Trump says he will likely give TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid ban
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday regarding the impending TikTok ban. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
“To fulfill these responsibilities, I have consulted with my advisors, including heads of relevant departments, about the national security concerns raised by TikTok and have worked to ensure national security while protecting the platform used by 170 million Americans. “We’re going to pursue solutions that protect our guarantees,” Trump said. “My administration must also review sensitive information related to these concerns and evaluate the sufficiency of mitigation measures taken to date by TikTok.”
Trump added that he has ordered a 75-day suspension of enforcement of the ban to give his administration “the opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action regarding TikTok.”
“Because national security interests are at stake and Section 2(d) of the Act gives only the Attorney General the authority to investigate and enforce the Act, enforcement by the State or private parties is prohibited. “Attempting to do so constitutes a violation of the authority of the state,” the order added. “The Attorney General shall use all available powers to preserve and defend the exclusive authority of the executive branch to enforce this Act.”
President Trump said Monday in an exchange with Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy that TikTok’s future “depends on the deal” and that the U.S. “should be entitled to half of TikTok.” said.
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U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (not pictured) swears in President-elect Donald Trump during the 60th presidential inauguration ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., Monday, January 20, 2025. do not have) . (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“You and members of your team warned us about the dangers of TikTok spying on Americans,” Doocy told the president. “What changed so that it doesn’t bother you anymore?”
President Trump responded, “We may not make a deal, and we may make a deal.” “TikTok is worthless, it’s worthless if I don’t approve it. We need to close the deal… If I make a deal, it’s probably worth a trillion dollars. A trillion dollars. That means I If the United States makes a deal, I’m talking about doing it.
In a unanimous ruling Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the ban on TikTok, highlighting concerns about the app’s “associations with foreign adversaries.”
“There is no question that TikTok provides a unique and far-reaching source of expression, participation, and community for more than 170 million Americans,” the court wrote in its decision. “However, Congress has determined that the sale is necessary to address widely held national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationships with foreign adversaries.”
This image shows the TikTok logo. President Trump extended the ban on TikTok for 75 days. (Jaap Arrians/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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“For the reasons set forth above, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate appellants’ First Amendment rights. The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is affirmed.”
