This past Friday, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the ban on the TikTok app in the United States ahead of the ban’s official start date of Sunday the 19th.
“Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the nation’s highest court noted in their ruling, rejecting a challenge from the company’s owner, ByteDance, which is based in China.
Now, just one day after TikTok went dark here in the U.S., President Donald Trump has – true to his word – signed an Executive Order that will bring the popular social media platform back for a short time pending a “resolution” that Trump says he hopes to get worked out soon:
The text of the order said this will give Trump’s administration time “to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.”
“Essentially with TikTok I have the right to sell it or close it,” Trump said from the Oval Office after signing the executive action on Monday. “We may have to get approval from China. I’m not sure. I’m sure they’ll approve.”
Trump said his administration will work on “a joint venture” between the United States and undisclosed other entities.
WATCH:
🚨 President Trump signs an Executive Order to keep TikTok alive so that a deal can be reached pic.twitter.com/oPqrvSjaes
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 21, 2025
Here are excerpts from Trump’s Executive Order:
I have the unique constitutional responsibility for the national security of the United States, the conduct of foreign policy, and other vital executive functions. To fulfill those responsibilities, I intend to consult with my advisors, including the heads of relevant departments and agencies on the national security concerns posed by TikTok, and to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.
“My Administration must also review sensitive intelligence related to those concerns and evaluate the sufficiency of mitigation measures TikTok has taken to date,” it also noted.
More:
The unfortunate timing of section 2(a) of the Act — one day before I took office as the 47th President of the United States — interferes with my ability to assess the national security and foreign policy implications of the Act’s prohibitions before they take effect. This timing also interferes with my ability to negotiate a resolution to avoid an abrupt shutdown of the TikTok platform while addressing national security concerns. Accordingly, I am instructing the Attorney General not to take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans.
You can read the full EO here. And while you’re there, check out the new look of the White House website. Pretty amazing stuff.
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