By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-19 16:26:18 | Updated at 2025-01-19 18:55:37
2 hours ago
US president-elect Donald Trump has revealed his plan to temporarily block a nationwide ban on TikTok, hours after the short-video app went dark to comply with a federal law meant to force the app to sever ties with its Chinese parent, ByteDance.
Just a day ahead of his inauguration in Washington, Trump said on Sunday that he will issue an executive order that would protect from liability any companies hosting or distributing TikTok, activity that became illegal when the divest-or-ban law came into effect earlier in the day.
The incoming president also called for a final resolution that would give a US entity 50 per cent ownership of TikTik.
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security”, Trump posted on social media on Sunday.
He added that the “order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order”.
“I would like the United States to have a 50 per cent ownership position in a joint venture,” he said. “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”
