President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming nationwide safety adviser mentioned Thursday the brand new administration will maintain TikTok alive within the US if there’s a viable deal.
“We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark,” Rep. Mike Waltz informed Fox Information, noting the legislation provides authority for a 90-day extension for the app’s Chinese language proprietor ByteDance to finish a divestiture “as long as a viable deal is on the table. Essentially that buys President Trump time to keep TikTok going.”
TikTok didn’t instantly remark.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition, Karoline Leavitt, mentioned “President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to save TikTok, and there’s no better deal maker than Donald Trump.”
Reuters reported TikTok plans to close US operations of its social media app utilized by 170 million People on Sunday, when a federal ban is ready to take impact, barring a last-minute reprieve, in response to folks conversant in the matter.
The legislation signed in April mandates a ban on new TikTok downloads on Apple or Google app shops if Chinese language mum or dad ByteDance fails to divest the location.
Customers who’ve downloaded TikTok would theoretically nonetheless have the ability to use the app, however the legislation additionally bars US firms from offering companies to allow the distribution, upkeep, or updating itonce any ban begins.
Individually, the Wall Avenue Journal reported TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will attend the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 and sit amongst high-profile company invited by Trump. Chew is ready to be in Washington on Monday, a supply informed Reuters.
Consultant Frank Pallone, the highest Democrat on the Vitality and Commerce Committee, criticized the choice to ask Chew on social media platform X.
“Trump talks a big game on China & wanted to ban TikTok—just like many Republicans voted to do,” Pallone mentioned. “But now he’s inviting TikTok’s CEO to sit beside him at his inauguration even though TikTok is linked to the CCP & is a threat to our national security. What message does this send?”
The US Supreme Court docket is at the moment deciding whether or not to uphold the legislation and permit TikTok to be banned on Sunday, overturn the legislation, or pause the legislation to present the courtroom extra time to decide.
Privately held ByteDance is about 60% owned by institutional buyers akin to BlackRock and Basic Atlantic, whereas its founders and staff personal 20% every. It has greater than 7,000 staff within the US.
