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TikTok tug-of-war: Can Trump save the app he ‘loves’?
To evade the ban, TikTok's parent firm, ByteDance, located in China, must either sell the app or find another option.
A TikTok sign is displayed on TikTok Inc. headquarters building in Culver City, California,
TikTok, the wildly popular video-sharing app, is caught up in a geopolitical crossfire between the US and China. As a major deadline approaches, President Donald Trump is apparently looking into unconventional ways to postpone the app’s prohibition. But is this a genuine attempt to save TikTok, or a manoeuvre to enhance his own image?
The Arguments
Legal experts suggest Trump’s potential executive order may lack authority, raising questions about its enforceability.
Critics argue that Trump’s motivations are less about TikTok’s future and more about preserving his image as a “deal-maker.”
Political aides and allies are reportedly scrambling to find loopholes to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to “save TikTok.”
Any delay or intervention could be viewed as undermining bipartisan legislation designed to curb Chinese tech influence.
The broader implications cannot be ignored. TikTok’s uncertain future reflects the escalating tech rivalry between the U.S. and China, a dynamic that transcends viral videos. Is this about securing a fair deal for TikTok—or reshaping the rules of power and influence in the digital age?
The facts
Donald Trump is apparently considering issuing an executive order to suspend the TikTok ban, which is slated to go into force on January 19.
To evade the ban, TikTok’s parent firm, ByteDance, located in China, must either sell the app or find another option.
A law passed by President Joe Biden last year requires this sale or ban, demonstrating bipartisan support for action against TikTok.
Trump’s suggested executive order may grant a 60- to 90-day reprieve, although the legitimacy of such an action is unknown.
The Supreme Court recently evaluated TikTok’s challenge to the law but has yet to deliver a verdict.
Trump has more than 14 million TikTok followers, indicating his popularity.
