Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 19: President-elect Donald Trump hinted that he would "most likely" grant TikTok a 90-day extension to finalize a deal that could prevent the popular video-sharing app from facing a US ban.
In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump stated that while no final decision had been made, a reprieve for TikTok after his inauguration on Monday was under consideration. “The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it's appropriate. It’s a very big situation,” Trump told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker.
The ban, set to take effect Sunday, stems from a law signed by President Joe Biden last year, requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations to an approved buyer. The legislation gave TikTok nine months to comply, with an option for the President to extend the deadline if a sale was underway.
TikTok has requested assurances from the Biden administration that it will not enforce the law or penalize app stores like Apple and Google if they continue to offer TikTok beyond the Sunday deadline. Without such guarantees, TikTok warned it might "go dark."
The White House dismissed TikTok's plea as a "stunt," emphasizing that enforcement would fall to the next administration. "We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions before the Trump administration assumes office on Monday," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Meanwhile, Apple, Google, and Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s US data, have not clarified their plans. Trump is expected to announce his decision regarding the extension on Monday, following his inauguration.
If granted, the 90-day extension could give TikTok a vital opportunity to resolve ongoing negotiations and avoid being shut down in the US.