Trump's team promises to keep TikTok from being banned

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The inbound Trump administration insists that TikTok will avoid a ban, but the long-term prospects of the social media app staying alive hinge on there being a deal for divestiture to a US company.

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TikTok owner ByteDance has until January 19 to divest its ownership of the U.S. elements of the app, or otherwise face it being banned from the country. The situation is precarious and messy to observers, due partly to timing complications.

While the ban technically comes into force on January 19, one day before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, it seems that the incoming administration wants TikTok to survive. This despite the law enforcing the ban applying just before the team can do anything about it preemptively.

It appears that there could be a lot of activity taking place soon after the ban comes into force, to keep the prospect of a TikTok sale alive.

"We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark," said U.S. representative Mike Waltz to Fox News. One of those ways is an exception included in the law.

According to Reuters, Waltz explained that there is a provision within the law that allows for a 90-day extension to be applied if there is "significant progress" made to divest the app. In short, if there's a viable deal to be made, that could be enough to secure another 90 days.

"Essentially that buys President Trump time to keep TikTok going," Waltz continued. This is, of course, depending on there being a suitable buyer interested, and it's not clear that there is one waiting in the wings in the next few days.

So long as a sitting president can certify to congress that there's evidence of significant progress, as well as legal agreements, for a divestiture within three months, the one-time 90-day delay can be implemented.

Multiple safety nets



The built-in extension seems like the most plausible way for TikTok to be saved, but there are others also underway.

There have already been reports of lawmakers attempting to change the law to allow for an extra 270-day extension. However, there's no guarantee that it will go through rapidly enough at this very late stage.

Another way is potentially more direct, with claims that Trump himself could issue an executive order to allow TikTok to continue its operations, even though it could be banned by the existing law. However, it is unclear whether Trump would have the authority to pull that off, given the requirements to certify a possible divestiture under the law.

The less likely way that TikTok will be saved is through the Supreme Court, which has yet to weigh in on a December decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals that blocked an attempt to overrule the law. Such an intervention could introduce a small extension, but the Supreme Court has seemingly signaled it has little interest in ruling on the case.

Pro-TikTok-life



Trump's administration and loyal lawmakers are quite positive on keeping TikTok alive despite the prospect of a ban, and in a seemingly big way.

Karoline Leavitt, a Trump transition spokesperson, said "President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to save TikTok, and there's no better deal maker than Donald Trump."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday that it's "clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer and not disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans." Schumer insisted he will "work with the Trump administration and with both parties to keep TikTok alive while protecting our national security."

In December, Trump's request to the Court of Appeals insisted a political resolution as possible. "President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government," the legal brief read.

This is, of course, an about-face from August 2020, when Trump signed an executive order in an attempt to ban TikTok. Trump then went on to cause issues for an attempted divestiture, which fell through despite eventually agreeing to terms.

As for TikTok's leadership, CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to be one of the guests invited by Trump to the inauguration. Chew is anticipated to sit alongside other high-profile guests on the dais, a position of honor.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    A good laugh this is 
    ronnsphericwatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 8
    Honestly feel like TikTok should be banned and another route be pursued for publishing content outside of China’s control.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 8
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,663member
    Trump was the one who wanted Tick Tock banned in the first place. Now, he wants it because he thinks the viewers will want to see HIM on it. What a hypocrite.
    gatorguymattinozmuthuk_vanalingamnubusronnsphericgrandact73Wesley Hilliardwatto_cobra
     7Likes 1Dislike 1Informative
  • Reply 4 of 8
    melgross said:
    Trump was the one who wanted Tick Tock banned in the first place. Now, he wants it because he thinks the viewers will want to see HIM on it. What a hypocrite.
     :D

    I think we're a bit past "hypocrite" as a criticism of that guy. 
    muthuk_vanalingambeowulfschmidtronnsphericsconosciutowatto_cobra
     6Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 8
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,557member
    In other words there is something already going to stop the ban but he want credit

    muthuk_vanalingamgatorguysphericsconosciutowatto_cobra
     5Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 8
    ronnronn Posts: 703member
    With Mango II just follow the money. The hypocrite's attempt to have his buddy Ellison buy TT fell through, so now let's see if Musty wants it. It's oddly quiet about rumors that he's negotiating to buy it.

    The Supremes just ruled unanimously that the ban goes into effect Sunday. Congress should not have put the ban in such a critical vote. A standalone vote should have been the way to get the CCP's hands off TT or force a ban.
    sphericsconosciutowatto_cobra
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  • Reply 7 of 8
    It’s funny that a law will go into effect and it is just going to be ignored.
    ronnwatto_cobrasconosciuto
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  • Reply 8 of 8
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,663member
    Now Trump gs said that Microsoft is negotiating for ir. But Trump says a lot of things that aren’t true, just what pops into his head. So we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t recall Microsoft making a comment on it.
    ronngatorguy
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