In brief
Mike Waltz, a Republican congressman from Florida, assured that Trump would seek an intervention if the Supreme Court upholds the impending TikTok ban due this weekend. He stated that TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, has until January 19 to sell the app or face the shutdown of its service for 170 million U.S. users. Amid these developments, the Biden administration is also considering potential methods to safeguard TikTok's presence. Waltz mentioned on Thursday, “We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark,” highlighting a possible 90-day extension for ByteDance if progress is made towards a sale. Such a provision could give Trump the time needed to keep TikTok operational.
While details of Trump's strategy remain unclear, previous statements by Waltz on Fox News suggested an executive order might be on the table to delay the ban which has been justified on national security grounds, due to fears over data privacy related to the Chinese Communist Party. Notably, Trump has invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to his inauguration, indicating possible intentions to maintain ties with the platform.The law, enacted by Congress last year, mandates that ByteDance must secure a U.S.-approved buyer or face restrictions that could effectively make the app unusable over time. Signed in April by President Biden as part of a broader legislative package, the law has sparked discussions within his administration about alternative approaches to keeping TikTok accessible.As past events show, both Trump and Biden have evolved in their viewpoints regarding TikTok's future in the U.S., with Trump previously advocating for a ban during his presidency but now promising protection. As the Supreme Court deliberates on the matter, a decisive announcement is anticipated shortly.
