President Trump signed an executive order on Monday evening. The order gives TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law. The law requires TikTok to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban. During this period, the U.S. government will not enforce the law.
Trump’s Explanation for the Extension
In the Oval Office, Trump spoke to reporters about his decision. He said, “I tell you what. Every rich person has called me about TikTok.”
Shift in Position on TikTok
When asked why he changed his mind since trying to ban TikTok in 2020, Trump responded, “Because I got to use it.”
TikTok’s Temporary Suspension
On Saturday, TikTok stopped working for U.S. users. This followed the implementation of a law banning the app on national security grounds. However, TikTok resumed service after Trump’s announcement. The app has 170 million users in the U.S.
ByteDance’s Non-Compliance
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, ignored the law requiring a sale of U.S. operations. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law. It went into effect on Sunday.
Tech Executives at Trump’s Inauguration
Trump had previously supported a ban on TikTok. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, attended Trump’s inauguration. He was joined by other tech leaders like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos.