TikTok users faced uncertainty ahead of Sunday, January 19th, when the app was scheduled to be shut down in the U.S. This was due to a Supreme Court ruling upholding a law that mandates service providers stop supporting TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells the app.
In response, TikTok warned that without immediate clarification from the Biden administration, it would be forced to “go dark” on Sunday. This would impact its 170 million American users who rely on the app daily. The White House quickly dismissed TikTok’s statement, calling it a “stunt.” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that actions regarding the law would fall to the next administration, led by President-elect Donald Trump.
“TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them,” she stated. The Biden administration has acknowledged that the matter would be handled by Trump’s team, which begins office on Monday, January 20th.
Trump, who initially supported a TikTok ban due to national security concerns, has since softened his stance. In December 2024, he called for a pause on the law’s implementation, allowing his administration time to explore a political solution. On Saturday, Trump told NBC News that he would “most likely” offer a 90-day extension to TikTok’s operations in the U.S., giving his administration time to assess potential solutions, including a possible divestiture or a new ownership structure.
Earlier, the Biden administration suggested that TikTok should remain available to Americans but under American ownership. The Justice Department’s stance reflects ongoing concerns about national security, with Attorney General Merrick Garland stressing the importance of preventing the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok.
As the clock ticks down, uncertainty surrounds the future of TikTok in the U.S., with both the Biden and incoming Trump administrations at a crossroads over the app’s fate.
