David Bridges
If you’re relying on Donald Trump to intervene and rescue TikTok, it’s understandable to feel uncertain about the future of the app at this juncture.
With the looming threat of TikTok’s removal from the U.S. within the next 33 days, and federal regulators urging Apple and Google to prepare for its removal from their app stores, President-elect Trump has yet to clarify his previous campaign promises to protect the platform.
In reality, his options for intervention appear to be quite limited.
Recently, a U.S. appeals court dismissed TikTok’s attempt to block the government’s mandated sell-off bill, which means that the platform must either be acquired by a U.S. entity by January 19th or face expulsion from the country. Although TikTok has sought an emergency injunction to postpone this directive, its avenues for further legal recourse seem constrained.
With only a few weeks remaining until the deadline, the chance for TikTok to facilitate a sale within this timeframe is extremely slim. Consequently, unless a decisive action is taken to overturn the Senate-approved sell-off bill, TikTok’s presence in America may soon come to an end.
Yet, there remains a sliver of hope that Trump could potentially intervene to save the platform.
As previously mentioned, during his campaign, Trump consistently asserted that he would protect TikTok if he were elected, while also expressing that he had become “a big star” on the platform. By leveraging TikTok and popular podcasts to connect with diverse audiences, he has accumulated millions of followers in the app.
This surge in attention seems to have strengthened his affinity for the platform.
When questioned about his position on TikTok this week, Trump remarked:
“We’ll take a look at TikTok. You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok.”
However, once again, Trump has failed to provide any specifics regarding whether or how he would rescind the existing sell-off legislation.
In theory, Trump could lessen the bill’s impact through an executive order, although this would necessitate counteracting the Senate’s resolution. This is a significant undertaking, and some have suggested that he might explore alternative, less direct methods to sidestep the sell-off mandate.
Nevertheless, the bill has already gained approval from the Senate and the sitting president, leaving little room for immediate renegotiation.
Does this imply that TikTok’s fate in the U.S. is sealed? Not necessarily.
There remains the possibility that TikTok could secure a temporary stay of execution, potentially delaying the implementation of the bill long enough for Trump to take additional action following his inauguration. Although some options exist, the current outlook appears grim, with no clear path to save the app aside from a sale to a U.S. company.
Should you start readying yourself for a post-TikTok existence? It’s likely a prudent idea to begin preparations, although you still have a few weeks before you need to seriously consider downloading your content and transitioning away from the platform.
Clara Hastings
Tessa Everly
