Former President Donald Trump, who previously tried to ban TikTok, is now working to keep the popular video app available in the United States. This shift happened after TikTok experienced an outage for some users recently. Trump has announced that he will issue an executive order to delay any TikTok ban once he returns to office on Monday. He says this action will allow time to negotiate an agreement to address national security concerns.
In his first term, Trump had stated that TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, posed a national security risk. His administration tried to remove the app from American app stores. However, these attempts faced legal challenges. Now, Trump appears to have changed his position, surprising many who previously viewed him as a strong opponent of the app. This sudden change is definitely unexpected given his past stance.
The exact reasons behind Trump’s shift are not clear. He has not provided details about what specific conditions any deal would have to meet. The future of TikTok in the US now depends on these negotiations. Trump emphasized in his online post that his priority is still national security, saying, “We need to make a deal to protect our national security.” His new position has raised questions about how the situation will progress.
Trump’s executive order will likely pause any immediate action against TikTok. This move could indicate a new way of dealing with technology companies owned by foreign entities. Additionally, it suggests that TikTok could remain available to American users. However, this would require the government and the company to reach a mutually satisfactory arrangement. The coming weeks will be critical for determining TikTok’s future.