Trump Management Approves TikTok Deal, Averting Imminent Ban
WASHINGTON D.C. – The trump administration has approved a deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States,averting a ban that has loomed over the popular video-sharing app for years. US trade representative Jamieson Greer told The Guardian that China and the US have reached a “framework agreement” on transferring ownership to US investors. The agreement comes after multiple extensions of the ban deadline, most recently pushed back from September 16 to December 16 by former President Trump.
the resolution ends a saga that began during Trump’s first term, when he initially viewed TikTok as a national security threat. While concerns over data privacy and potential Chinese government influence persisted,the deal allows TikTok to remain a fixture in the American social media landscape. The agreement follows the passage of the Protecting Americans From Foreign adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) in 2024, signed into law by President Biden, which mandated ByteDance divest a certain percentage of the app or face a ban.ByteDance had challenged the law in the Supreme Court, but the Court upheld it, setting an initial ban date of January 19. Trump afterward extended the deadline after taking office, continuing to seek a resolution that would ”save” the app, citing his belief that it aided his reelection.
The details of the ownership transfer are still emerging,but the agreement signals a shift from outright prohibition to a managed transition. It remains to be seen whether the new ownership structure will fully address the initial national security concerns raised by US officials. The administration has indicated that a new app, reportedly to be called M2, will launch as part of the agreement, though a specific timeline has not been announced.
