President Donald Trump issued an executive order to halt the enforcement of a ban on TikTok in the United States for 75 days, following TikTok’s abrupt shutdown and restoration over the weekend. The order aims to protect national security while saving the platform used by 170 million Americans. Trump also mentioned consulting with advisors and reviewing intelligence related to national security concerns posed by TikTok. The law requiring TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell American assets by Sunday to keep operating in the U.S. was passed with bipartisan support due to concerns over Chinese ownership structure. Trump’s current efforts to help the app mark a reversal from his previous attempt to ban TikTok based on national security concerns during his first term. The executive order instructs the attorney general not to enforce the ban for 75 days to allow the new administration time to determine the appropriate course of action. However, it is unclear if Trump has the power to halt the ban, as the law imposes fines on companies facilitating TikTok access. Republican Senators have disputed Trump’s ability to extend the law’s effectiveness through an executive order. The law authorizes fines for companies violating the ban, which could face significant liability. Overall, the situation remains complex and unclear as the legal implications of Trump’s actions regarding the TikTok ban are still unknown.
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Is Trump’s executive order to stop TikTok ban legal?
