President-elect Donald Trump indicated on Saturday that he is inclined to grant TikTok an additional 90 days to secure a deal that would enable the platform to circumvent a U.S. ban. In an interview with NBC News, Trump stated that while he has not yet made a final decision, he is contemplating extending the deadline for TikTok following his inauguration on Monday. Legislation is set to go into effect on Sunday, barring mobile app stores and internet hosting services from providing TikTok to American users.
Enacted by Congress and endorsed by President Joe Biden last year, the law mandated TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest its U.S. operations to an authorized purchaser within a nine-month timeframe. The legislation permits the incumbent president to prolong the timeline if a sale is in progress. Trump emphasized that a potential 90-day extension is under serious consideration, deeming it a suitable course of action. He conveyed this sentiment to “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker during a telephone conversation, underscoring the complexity of the issue.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” Trump declared, emphasizing the importance of a thorough assessment of the circumstances at hand.
