A PYMNTS Company

TikTok Stays Online for Now: Trump Floats US Ownership Deal

By  |  January 21, 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday delaying the enforcement of a ban on the popular short-video app TikTok by 75 days. The ban, initially slated to take effect on January 19, left millions of American users uncertain about the app’s future. According to Reuters, the executive order capped two days of intense legal and political developments surrounding the app’s fate.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    While signing the order, Trump proposed that the United States government could hold a 50% ownership stake in TikTok’s U.S. business in exchange for allowing the app to operate domestically. He also warned of potential tariffs on China if Beijing did not approve a deal involving TikTok. Per Reuters, Trump’s proposal reflects his ongoing focus on U.S.-China relations, which have been fraught with tension in recent years.

    TikTok’s Tumultuous Weekend

    The drama began on Saturday when TikTok, which has an estimated 170 million users in the U.S., was briefly taken offline. This development coincided with the looming deadline for its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest the app on national security grounds. Reuters reported that on Sunday, Trump declared his intention to “save TikTok,” prompting the app’s swift restoration for U.S. users. In a statement, TikTok expressed gratitude to the incoming administration for providing assurances that its operations could continue without the threat of heavy penalties.

    Despite being operational, TikTok remains unavailable for download on the Apple and Google app stores, and the legal standing of Trump’s executive order remains in question. The law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok was passed with bipartisan support in Congress, signed into law by President Joe Biden, and upheld by the Supreme Court. As Reuters noted, the law does not explicitly grant the president authority to extend the divestiture deadline unless binding agreements for a sale are in place—an element that remains unclear.

    Political and Economic Implications

    Representative Frank Pallone criticized Trump’s order, stating it undermines national security legislation supported by a bipartisan majority in Congress. The issue comes during a critical juncture in U.S.-China relations. Trump has hinted at imposing tariffs on China while expressing a desire for more direct communication with Beijing’s leadership. Reuters reported that China has signaled a willingness to consider a deal that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., with the country’s foreign ministry emphasizing that companies should independently decide their business strategies.

    We’d love to be your preferred source for news.

    Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks!

    Add as Preferred Source

    Related: Supreme Court Justices Grill TikTok’s Lawyer in National Security Case

    Trump’s suggestion of a government stake in TikTok raises eyebrows, as such a move would be unprecedented for a U.S. administration. While Trump argued that the U.S. would create significant value by resolving the app’s operational challenges, it remains unclear how such an arrangement would address national security concerns. Reuters highlighted that Trump’s comments did not clarify whether ByteDance or other Chinese stakeholders would retain any ownership in TikTok under a new deal.

    Previous Attempts at a Resolution

    This is not Trump’s first attempt to address concerns about TikTok. During his first term, he unsuccessfully sought to ban the app, citing fears that ByteDance could share U.S. user data with the Chinese government. In 2020, Trump endorsed a potential deal with Walmart and Oracle to take ownership stakes in TikTok, which included a $5 billion contribution to a U.S. education fund. However, that agreement ultimately collapsed.

    As part of his Monday order, Trump directed the Justice Department to notify companies like Apple, Google, and Oracle that there is no liability for their past dealings with TikTok. Whether this reassurance will prompt app stores to restore TikTok remains to be seen. Meanwhile, ByteDance has not commented on the developments.

    The Path Ahead

    The TikTok controversy underscores broader concerns about the role of Chinese-owned technology in the U.S. market. While Trump’s actions aim to protect national security and secure economic benefits for the U.S., the lack of clarity around the legal and logistical aspects of the proposed solutions leaves significant uncertainty for the app’s future.

    Source: Reuters