Trump Says He Will Stall TikTok Ban With Executive Order

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Sunday his plans to issue an executive order to delay the federal ban on TikTok, following the removal of the app from major app stores and its suspension for U.S. users.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump urged companies not to let TikTok remain inactive, stating, “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the timeline before the law’s restrictions take effect, in order to facilitate negotiations to safeguard our national security.”

The ban was triggered by a 2024 law mandating app stores and cloud providers to cease distribution and hosting of TikTok unless it is divested by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Concerns over potential data gathering and propaganda dissemination by the Chinese government led to the passage of this law.

Failure to comply with the law could lead to significant financial penalties for app stores and cloud providers. Mr. Trump assured in his post that companies assisting in keeping TikTok operational would not face liability until his executive order is issued.

An executive order from Mr. Trump would signify a new phase in the battle over TikTok’s future, a platform that has had a profound impact on social media and popular culture. By issuing this order, Mr. Trump aims to temporarily suspend a law that received broad bipartisan support in Congress and was recently upheld by the Supreme Court.

The success of Mr. Trump’s efforts remains uncertain, as legal challenges may arise regarding his authority to halt enforcement of a federal law. Companies subject to the law may question the adequacy of the order in protecting them from penalties.

While the law permits a 90-day extension if a non-Chinese buyer is identified, substantial progress toward a deal must be evident for the extension to be granted. It is unclear whether this extension option still stands given the law’s current enforcement.

In his announcement, Mr. Trump suggested a desire for the U.S. to have a 50% ownership stake in a potential joint venture, without providing further specifics.

TikTok has dismissed the possibility of a sale due to its global operations, and China has indicated its intent to block the export of critical video-recommendation technology.

In a final effort to keep TikTok operational, the platform and several Democratic lawmakers appealed to prevent the app’s shutdown. Senator Chuck Schumer warned President Biden that allowing TikTok to go dark would tarnish his legacy.

On the other hand, critics of TikTok, like Senator Tom Cotton, emphasized the need for tech companies to comply with the law to avoid financial repercussions. Senators Cotton and Pete Ricketts praised major tech firms for adhering to the law, emphasizing that only a sale could ensure TikTok’s continued operation.

They asserted, “Now that the law is in effect, there is no legal basis for an ‘extension’ of its enforcement. TikTok can only continue operating through a sale.”

Contributions to this report were made by Maggie Haberman and Karen Weise.