President-elect Donald Trump has revealed plans to extend TikTok’s operations in the United States by 90 days as the ban deadline approaches.
Speaking during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Saturday, Trump disclosed that the extension would “most likely” be granted to give TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, additional time to meet the conditions for its continued operation.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a ruling mandating ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese company or face a ban.
Despite this, ByteDance has consistently refused to comply with the directive.
With the deadline set for Sunday, TikTok risks being removed from app stores nationwide unless the extension is granted.
Trump stated the need for a careful approach, saying, “The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.”
He hinted that the final decision would be announced on Monday, his first official day in office.
For the extension to be approved, ByteDance must demonstrate a clear plan for divestment, significant progress in negotiations, and legally binding agreements to ensure the sale is completed within the 90-day period.
However, with ByteDance showing no willingness to sell, the situation remains uncertain.
The Biden administration, which has chosen to pass enforcement responsibility to the incoming Trump government, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, aligning with the Department of Justice in urging compliance with the law.
In a statement on Friday, TikTok expressed concerns over the lack of clarity from U.S. authorities, warning that millions of its American users could face disruptions if the app is banned.