TikTok Reprieve: Trump Issues Executive Order Amid App's Uncertain Fate
On Monday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily shielding TikTok from an impending US ban. This move marks a flurry of activity on Trump's first day back in office.
The executive order, which experts question legally, grants the Trump administration a 75-day grace period to "determine the appropriate course forward" for TikTok's US operations. This comes after a new law effectively banned the app at midnight on Sunday.
Trump cited his "unique" presidential responsibilities as the basis for the order. He argued that the timing of the law "interferes" with his ability to assess the app's national security and foreign policy implications. The law prohibits users from accessing TikTok through app stores and cloud services unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells itself to a non-adversarial entity.
In a meeting with reporters at the Oval Office, Trump reiterated the concept of the US acquiring a 50% stake in a joint venture to manage TikTok. He also threatened to impose tariffs on China if they decline a proposed buyer for TikTok's US assets. Trump estimated the app's value at $1 trillion.
The executive order stems from weekend discussions regarding TikTok's fate in the US. The app was unavailable for a 12-hour period on Saturday night, but service was restored after Trump's assurances.
Legal experts and Capitol Hill figures have expressed doubts about Trump's authority to grant extensions. Key Trump allies, including Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts, have asserted that the law has taken effect and cannot be extended. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also emphasized the need to enforce the ban.
Despite the order, TikTok remains unavailable on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
An executive order faces a "narrow chance" of protecting TikTok from the new law. A 1952 Supreme Court case (Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer) limited presidential power to issue orders that contradict federal law. However, some justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, have expressed support for a "unitary executive theory" that could bolster Trump's argument.
As the situation unfolds, TikTok executives and leaders from Apple, Google, and Microsoft were present at Monday's inauguration events.