President Trump signed an executive order to delay enforcing a federal ban of TikTok for 75 days, despite the law taking effect. The order tells the attorney general not to enforce the law to determine the next steps. Trump also suggested that the U.S. should get half of TikTok if a deal is reached. The law required TikTok to be sold to a non-Chinese owner.
Legal challenges could arise due to Trump’s order, questioning the extent of presidential power. TikTok’s links to China have raised security concerns, leading to attempts by Trump and Congress to force a sale of the app. The law was recently upheld by the Supreme Court, but Trump’s order seeks to delay its enforcement.
The app briefly went offline but returned following Trump’s announcement. The order aims to protect national security while saving the platform used by millions of Americans. Legal experts question the validity of Trump’s directive to not enforce the law temporarily.
TikTok and Apple did not comment, while Google declined to. Concerns about freedom of speech have been raised due to the law limiting TikTok’s availability. Trump’s changing stance on TikTok, from wanting to ban it to using it himself, has raised questions about the motives behind the executive order.