MAR-A-LAGO, FL — Former President Donald J. Trump announced via social media on Saturday that he intends to issue an executive order on Monday to extend the time frame before federal restrictions on TikTok take effect, proposing a plan to keep the app operational through a joint U.S. ownership arrangement.
President Joe Biden signed the TikTok ban into law this past April.
In a post from his @realDonaldTrump account, Trump indicated that the order would delay implementation of restrictions to allow for negotiations, stating that the United States should hold a 50% ownership stake in a proposed joint venture with TikTok’s current or new owners. “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok,” Trump wrote, adding that the app could be “worth hundreds of billions of dollars—maybe trillions” under such an arrangement.
Trump also emphasized that the executive order would absolve any liability for companies that facilitated TikTok’s continued operations before the order’s issuance.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday,” Trump said, referring to upcoming events he views as key to the platform’s value for public discourse.
The remarks reflect Trump’s longstanding concerns over TikTok’s ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance, citing potential national security risks. While the details of the proposed joint venture remain unclear, Trump’s vision centers on leveraging U.S. control to safeguard user data and the app’s future.
TikTok has not yet commented on Trump’s statements or the proposed plan. Negotiations or legal challenges could shape the next steps, as stakeholders await further action from both the Biden administration and the platform’s current owners.