President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in a Saturday phone interview that he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a potential U.S. ban after he assumes office on Monday.
While Trump stated he had not made a final decision, he confirmed he is considering extending the Sunday deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese buyer.
“I think that’s certainly an option we’ll look at. A 90-day extension is likely, because it makes sense. It’s a very significant issue, and we need to evaluate it carefully,” Trump explained during the interview.
“If I decide to proceed, I’ll likely make the announcement on Monday,” he added.
Under a bipartisan law passed last year, a 90-day extension is permitted under specific conditions. However, even with an extension, TikTok could still face a temporary shutdown since the current compliance deadline falls on Sunday.
TikTok’s uncertain future has been a pressing issue in the final days of the Biden administration, with millions of U.S. users awaiting a resolution. The Biden administration has maintained that enforcing the law will be the responsibility of the incoming administration. On Friday, TikTok warned that without further “clarity and assurance,” the app might “go dark” starting Sunday, citing concerns over potential legal consequences for third-party providers.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed TikTok’s announcement as a “stunt,” stating on Saturday, “There is no reason for TikTok or other companies to act prematurely before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday. We’ve made our position clear: implementation of this law will be managed by the next administration.”
The law, signed by President Joe Biden last April, mandates that ByteDance sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer or face a U.S. ban. However, Biden’s aides have recently sought ways to keep TikTok operational once the law takes effect.
For an extension to be granted, the president must certify to Congress that there is progress toward divestiture, a clear path to completing it, and binding legal agreements in place to facilitate the sale. So far, no such agreements have been disclosed.
When asked about recent developments regarding a potential sale, Trump declined to provide specifics.
Trump’s support for a 90-day extension marks a notable shift from his previous administration’s stance when he signed executive orders to ban TikTok and WeChat, both of which were blocked by the courts. His softened approach followed discussions with a prominent American investor in TikTok last year.
Supporters of TikTok’s sale or ban cite concerns over ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government and the app’s collection of American users’ data. Meanwhile, TikTok’s fans have voiced their opposition to a ban, with some even turning to other Chinese apps despite similar privacy concerns.
On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the law in an unsigned opinion with no dissents, rejecting TikTok’s arguments that it violated free speech. Following the ruling, Trump called for patience on Truth Social, stating, “The Supreme Court decision was expected. My decision on TikTok will come soon. Stay tuned!”
TikTok CEO Shou Chew expressed gratitude toward Trump for his efforts to keep the app available in the U.S. Chew is also expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, alongside other tech leaders.
As of Friday, Biden administration officials reiterated that enforcing the law would fall to Trump’s administration, given the timing of the transition. “The incoming administration will handle the law’s implementation,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
“The statements released today by the Biden White House and the Department of Justice lack the clarity and assurances needed by the key service providers essential to keeping TikTok accessible to over 170 million Americans,” TikTok stated in a post on X.
“Without an immediate and definitive statement from the Biden Administration guaranteeing non-enforcement, TikTok will regrettably have no choice but to suspend operations starting January 19,” the statement continued.
