Trump Issues Executive Order Delaying TikTok Ban
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order temporarily shielding TikTok from a US ban, initiating a flurry of activity on his first day back in office. The order grants a 75-day window for the Trump administration to evaluate the national security and foreign policy implications of the ban, which took effect at midnight on Sunday.
The order stems from the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which prohibits access to TikTok through app stores and cloud services unless ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, sells to a non-adversarial country.
Trump's authority for the order is based on his "unique" responsibilities as president, citing the timing of the law's implementation as interfering with his ability to negotiate a resolution.
The executive order allows TikTok to continue operating in the US while the administration explores potential solutions and considers the proposed sale of its US assets to an acceptable buyer.
Trump has floated the idea of a joint venture with TikTok, with the US holding a 50% stake, and suggested tariffs on China if they do not approve a suitable buyer.
The legality of the executive order is questionable, as it may conflict with existing law. Critics argue that Trump lacks the authority to override the ban passed with bipartisan support.
However, some Supreme Court justices have expressed sympathy towards the "unitary executive theory," which could provide a potential basis for the order's legality.
Key figures, including TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and the CEOs of Apple and Google, attended Monday's events, highlighting the ongoing focus on TikTok's fate in the US.