Trump tells Justice Department not to enforce TikTok ban for 75 days

Source: NBC News

Jan. 20, 2025, 8:23 PM EST


President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that gives TikTok a 75-day extension during which the United States will not enforce the law meant to force the app's owner to sell the company.

The law, which President Joe Biden signed in April, requires TikTok’s owner, the Chinese company ByteDance, to sell most of its stake for TikTok to continue to operate in the United States. It went into effect Sunday, but the Biden administration said it wouldn't enforce the law. Now, Trump is continuing that approach.

"I hereby order the Attorney General not to take any action on behalf of the United States to enforce the Act for 75 days from the date of this order, to permit my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok," the White House said in the order. "During this period, the Department of Justice shall take no action to enforce the Act or impose any penalties against any entity for any noncompliance with the Act, including for distributing, maintaining, or updating (or enabling the distribution, maintenance, or updating) of any foreign adversary controlled application as defined in the Act."

The order temporarily halts the recent back-and-forth surrounding the app's accessibility. After the Supreme Court upheld the law behind the looming ban Friday, TikTok voluntarily made itself unavailable to U.S. customers Saturday evening. On Sunday, after Trump said he preferred the app to stay operable to help broadcast his inauguration, TikTok resumed service, greeting American users with a message that thanked him. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/trump-tells-justice-department-not-enforce-tiktok-ban-75-days-rcna188377