Donald Trump’s stance on TikTok has undergone a dramatic transformation, from leading efforts to ban the app during his first presidency to positioning himself as its savior ahead of his second term. On the eve of his inauguration, Trump announced plans to delay enforcement of a federal law banning the popular video-sharing platform, allowing TikTok to resume operations after a brief weekend blackout.
A law passed earlier this year mandated that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, divest its U.S. operations by Sunday. Despite the Biden administration signaling it wouldn’t enforce the ban before Trump’s return, TikTok proactively went dark, frustrating 170 million users in the U.S.
Through a social media posting, Trump said he would “delay the TikTok ban via executive order so that a deal can be negotiated.” “We have no choice. We have to save it,” he told a rally audience, where he suggested a share of the US government in the joint venture that would be undertaken with TikTok. Hours later, the app was back up, and a relieved user reaction mixed with praise for Trump’s leadership from TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew.
While Trump’s legal right to circumvent the law is still unclear, his decision is a sharp reversal from his 2020 campaign, when he assailed TikTok as a national security threat. Analysts say this is because TikTok has become increasingly influential, especially among young voters who helped elect Trump in 2024.
However, critics have voiced fears the proposed deal by Trump was unlawful. For instance, Senator Tom Cotton stated that those companies assisting TikTok would face grave liabilities because executive orders cannot withstand congressional legislation, according to various legal experts.
Such measures notwithstanding, Trump’s fresh endorsement of TikTok is part of a general thrust by the tech sultans to court the incoming Trump Administration. Meta and Google chiefs, along with other chief executives of tech companies, have promised to raise money for Trump’s inauguration, which may forebode regulatory policies in his second term.
Trump’s about-turn underscores the application’s cultural and political significance. With some 15 million followers on TikTok, Trump recognizes its impact and has acknowledged that it helped him connect more closely with his young voters while cementing this role in the next chapter of his presidency.
