President Biden Steps Back on TikTok Ban, Leaving Decision to the Trump Administration

Despite a strong crusade against TikTok, President Joe Biden will not be enforcing the ban scheduled to take place in the upcoming days.

Instead, the decision will be left to President-elect Donald Trump, as a U.S. official confirmed Thursday. This shift delays Congress’ mandate, signed into law by Biden, requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to divest the app by January 19th. Trump, who once advocated for banning the video-sharing app, has pledged to keep it available.

“Number one, TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use,” said incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, adding, “But number two, he’s going to protect their data.”

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration, alongside tech giants such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, signaling the platform’s role in future tech policy discussions.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has urged Biden to extend the divestiture deadline, emphasizing the livelihoods of influencers reliant on TikTok.

“More time is needed to find an American buyer and not disrupt millions of Americans,” Schumer said. However, Senator Tom Cotton opposed, labeling TikTok a “Chinese Communist spy app.”

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments on the legality of the mandate. Observers anticipate a ruling upholding the law. Waltz hinted at Trump’s negotiation strategies, asserting, “He’s a deal maker… We’re going to create this space to put that deal in place.”

Trump’s campaign has embraced TikTok to engage younger voters, a pivot from his earlier stance. As his team states, the app played a critical role in securing youth support.