President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will issue an executive order on Monday to delay the U.S. TikTok ban, giving ByteDance more time to finalize a deal for divestiture. The move follows the app going dark for U.S. users overnight after a bipartisan law banning TikTok took effect.
Trump emphasized his commitment to bringing the app back online swiftly, stating, “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!” He also assured service providers they wouldn’t face penalties for maintaining access, paving the way for TikTok’s gradual return to U.S. users by Sunday afternoon.
TikTok, which faced scrutiny over privacy and national security concerns, expressed gratitude for the clarity provided. “We thank President Trump for allowing TikTok to thrive while we work on a long-term solution,” the company said, noting its service is vital to over 170 million Americans and 7 million small businesses.
The law requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S.-based company or face a ban. Trump’s executive order will extend the deadline, contingent on “significant progress” toward a deal. This extension grants breathing room as Trump aims to balance national security concerns with the app’s cultural and economic importance.
