TikTok to be ‘most likely’ back on Monday after shutdown, Here is why

"The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC in an interview. "If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: January 19, 2025 02:33 AM IST

3 min read

Donald Trump Inauguration as US President TikTok

Donald Trump will be taking oath as the US President on January 20. (Photo: AP)

TikTok could be back in US as early as Monday, after facing a shutdown set for Sunday as President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday said that he would “most likely” grant the app a 90-day reprieve from a potential ban after he takes office.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation,” Trump told NBC in an interview. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

The possibility of an extension adds another twist to the ongoing saga that has left TikTok’s future — and its 170 million US users — in uncertainty.

Also read | How did TikTok end up in the US Supreme Court? What happens next?

The law, passed last year with bipartisan backing, and upheld on Friday by the Supreme Court, mandates that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, either sell the app to a non-Chinese entity or face a US ban.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, announced on Friday that it would go dark in the US on Sunday unless the Biden administration reassures companies like Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement actions when the ban takes effect.

The White House dismissed TikTok’s Friday remarks as a publicity stunt, shifting responsibility to the incoming Trump administration. “We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement.

TikTok has not yet responded to the new White House comments. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington accused the US of unfairly suppressing TikTok, stating, “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”

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The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Friday solidified the ban unless a 90-day delay is officially invoked. Without such action, TikTok’s service providers, including Apple, Google, and Oracle, could face legal liability for continuing their partnerships.

Trump initially set the stage for the US crackdown on TikTok during the final days of his first term, stating his intention to ban the app. TikTok CEO Shou Chew met with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in the weeks leading up to the impending ban and is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

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