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President-elect Trump Expected to Halt TikTok Ban Before January Deadline in Policy Reversal

Nov 12, 2024, 06:35 PM

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to attempt to halt the impending TikTok ban in the United States, according to reports from the Washington Post and statements from his allies. This move represents a significant policy reversal for Trump, who previously tried to ban the Chinese-owned social media app in 2020 over national security concerns. During his campaign, Trump promised to 'save TikTok' if elected, citing his own popularity on the platform and noting that banning it would help rivals like Facebook, which he continues to criticize over his 2020 election loss. The app faces a deadline of January 19, 2025, to find a non-China-based owner to continue operations in the U.S. Trump's expected intervention may create tensions with China hawks in his cabinet, who view TikTok as a security threat. Reports also suggest that his granddaughter uses the app, which may have influenced his decision. It remains unclear what specific actions Trump will take to prevent the ban or how this move will align with his administration's broader approach to Chinese tech companies.