Trump Delays TikTok Ban and Proposes U.S. Ownership for National Security

Trump Unveils Executive Order to Postpone TikTok Ban.

In a recent announcement, former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated his intention to issue an executive order on Monday to temporarily delay the ban on TikTok. The ban took effect this past weekend following a 2024 federal law stipulating that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, must either sell its U.S. operations or cease its operations entirely, leaving millions of American users without access to the app.

Trump's Position on Truth Social

Using his platform on Truth Social, Trump urged technology companies to maintain TikTok's functionality, promising that he would:

"I will sign an executive order on Monday to extend the timeline before the law's restrictions are enforced."

Trump also assured that companies supporting TikTok’s operation during the extension would not face legal ramifications.

Proposal for U.S. Ownership in TikTok

Alongside the delay, Trump proposed a plan for the United States to acquire a 50% ownership stake in TikTok. This strategic move aims to:

• Safeguard national security.
• Ensure the continued operation of TikTok.

Trump posits that this U.S. involvement could potentially elevate TikTok’s value significantly, even into the realm of trillions of dollars.

Anticipated Challenges

The proposed executive order might encounter legal obstacles and there remains uncertainty regarding its effectiveness in shielding companies from penalties due to law violations. Meanwhile, TikTok remains inaccessible to numerous users, as app stores have already complied with the legislative requirements to remove it.