After years of debate, months of delays, and weeks of last-minute scrambling, the U.S. stands on the brink of banning TikTok—a bipartisan decision that now seems like a political hot potato no one wants to handle.
Why It Matters
On the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Trump faces a challenge that threatens his popularity, his executive authority, and his promises. Trump has vowed to save TikTok but has yet to explain how he can do so without violating U.S. law.
The Latest
On Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law passed by Congress last year requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app by January 19—or face a U.S. ban.
- The court dismissed a brief from Trump requesting a delay in the ban, stating his administration needed time to “pursue a negotiated resolution.”
- President Biden, who signed the TikTok bill into law, has refused to enforce the ban, stating, “Actions to implement the law simply must fall” to the Trump administration due to timing.
- TikTok warned it would “be forced to go dark” unless the Biden administration provided assurances to service providers to prevent enforcement.
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State of Play
Trump is now in a difficult position.
- His administration initiated the push to ban TikTok in 2020, citing national security concerns over Beijing’s influence on the app and its user data.
- However, Trump later became a defender of TikTok after recognizing its potential as a powerful campaign tool, especially among younger voters.
- Now, the platform’s 170 million American users face the prospect of seeing TikTok vanish from app stores on Trump’s first day in office—an event that could overshadow or even define his inauguration.
What to Watch
Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to delay enforcement of the ban, giving his administration more time to find a U.S. buyer for TikTok. However, ByteDance has refused to sell for the past eight months.
- It’s unclear how Trump’s executive order could bypass the Supreme Court ruling. App stores operated by Google and Apple could face fines and legal risks if they ignore the court’s decision.
- Trump is actively seeking a resolution: He discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to attend Monday’s inauguration as a VIP.
The Intrigue
Trump’s efforts to save TikTok face resistance from within his own party.
- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Intelligence Committee, blocked a Democratic attempt to extend the ban deadline, declaring, “There will be no extensions, no concessions, and no compromises for TikTok.”
- Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, was one of the first lawmakers to raise alarms about TikTok in 2019. However, Rubio has indicated he will now defer to Trump on the matter.
Between the Lines
The TikTok debate reflects broader tensions in U.S.-China relations. While “decoupling” the two economies may seem like a sound national security strategy, the real-world consequences—and the risk of public backlash—are significant.
- In the days leading up to the ban, hundreds of thousands of Americans have downloaded RedNote, a Chinese app believed to reference Mao Zedong’s “Little Red Book.”
- This “TikTok refugee” migration has sparked an unprecedented cultural exchange between young American and Chinese users, creating a propaganda win for Beijing that officials could only dream of.