Trump officially gives TikTok a lifeline after taking office

After taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying the implementation of the law banning TikTok in the US for at least 75 days.

The move is a stark contrast to his previous attempts to ban the app. During his first term, Trump repeatedly tried to block TikTok through executive orders, even pressuring ByteDance to sell its US operations.

President Trump signs executive order delaying TikTok ban in the US.

This time, however, President Trump said he needed more time to assess the national security and foreign policy implications of the ban. He will also review measures TikTok has taken to address data security concerns, including 'Project Texas' — moving US user data to Oracle servers.

TikTok had previously been forced to suspend operations in the US for several hours as the ban took effect. However, the service was restored after Mr Trump pledged to delay the ban.

China has also expressed its openness to negotiating with the US to find a solution to the TikTok issue. They asserted that all mergers and acquisitions must comply with international law and market principles.

It remains unclear whether TikTok will be able to reach a final agreement with the US government, but President Trump's delay of the ban has given hope to the app and its millions of US users.

Lesley Montoya

Update 10 February 2025