The president-elect of the United States, , said this Saturday that he will “probably” give a 90-day extension to TikTok, postponing a possible ban, after taking power next Monday, with the 170 million North American users nervous about anticipation of the application closing scheduled for Sunday.
“The 90-day extension is something I will probably do because it is appropriate,” Trump told NBC. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
The Chinese-owned app, which has captivated nearly half of Americans, boosted small businesses and shaped online culture, said Sunday that unless President Joe Biden’s administration provides assurances to companies like Apple and Google that they will not will be the target of supervisory actions when the ban comes into force.
Under a law passed last year and upheld on Friday by a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, the platform has until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or close U.S. operations to address concerns. that it poses a threat to national security.
The White House reiterated this Saturday that it will be up to the new Trump administration to take action, increasing the likelihood of a closure on Sunday.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to act in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
