TikTok Ban in the US: Trump May Grant 90-Day Extension as App Prepares for Shutdown – Top 10 Updates
United States President-elect Donald Trump stated in an interview with NBC that he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban when he takes office on Monday (January 20), according to Reuters.
Speaking on January 18, Trump addressed concerns regarding the potential shutdown of TikTok, which has 170 million users in the US. The app is set to go dark on January 19 following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ban.
Key Updates on the TikTok Ban:
•Trump’s Statement: “The 90-day extension is something that will most likely happen because it’s appropriate. If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” Trump said.
•TikTok’s Farewell Message: Users logging into the app late on January 18 received a notification stating that the law would “force us to make our services temporarily unavailable.” The company added that it was working to restore access in the US as soon as possible.
•Looming Shutdown: On January 17, TikTok warned that it would be forced to shut down in the US unless the Biden administration provided assurances to Apple and Google that they would not face enforcement actions for hosting the app.
•Legal Gray Area: Experts noted that Trump could direct the Justice Department to deprioritize enforcement of the ban, but it remains unclear whether that would offer sufficient legal protection for Apple and Google to continue supporting TikTok.
•White House Response: The Biden administration stated on January 18 that any action regarding the ban would be up to the incoming Trump administration. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take action in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.”
•China’s Reaction: The Chinese embassy in Washington accused the US of unfairly using state power to suppress TikTok, warning that “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
•Users’ Final Moments: Many TikTok users spent their last hours on the app frantically scrolling or sharing farewell messages and secrets before the ban takes effect.
•Oracle’s Shutdown Preparations: Oracle, the primary cloud computing provider for TikTok’s US operations, has reportedly instructed staff to prepare for shutting down servers hosting the app in the country as early as 9 p.m. ET on January 18 (0200 GMT on January 19), according to The Information.
•Surge in Alternative Platforms: With TikTok’s future uncertain, users—mainly young Americans—are flocking to alternatives such as China-based RedNote. Meanwhile, competitors Meta and Snap have seen their stock prices rise amid the anticipated ban.
•Potential TikTok Comeback: There are indications that TikTok might still have a future under Trump. CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend the US presidential inauguration and join a rally with Trump on Sunday, according to sources cited by Reuters.
As the ban deadline nears, uncertainty looms over whether the app will continue operating in the US or face an indefinite suspension.
