Trump’s White House Return May Define TikTok’s US Future 

President-elect Donald Trump TikTok promise from his firm term to “save TikTok” has created wide uncertainties on the platform’s future as he prepares to return to the White House, according to The Associated Press.  

During his first term, Trump sought to ban the ByteDance-owned platform over national security concerns, but his recent statements, however, sing a different song, suggesting potential policy reversal. 

Under a law signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024, ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, faces a January 19, 2025, deadline to divest its stake in the app or face a potential ban on national security grounds. This, however, raises questions whether the President-elect Trump wants to ban TikTok or not. 

The attempt of Trump banning TikTok is nothing new as he attempted to ban the app during his first term. The equation changed this time as he pledged to “save TikTok,” though specific plans remain undisclosed, according to New York Magazine. 

Complicating the situation even further, ByteDance filed a lawsuit against the US government, arguing that the proposed ban violates the free speech rights of its 170 million American users, according to Al-Jazeera. 

“For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than 1 billion people worldwide,” the company said in the lawsuit. 

Can Trump Actually Ban TikTok? 

The situation might seem complicated, but President-elect Trump has the authority to influence TikTok’s status in the US as he can urge Congress to modify existing legislation or negotiate a new agreement with ByteDance.  

Legal expert Anupam Chander advises that Trump could request lawmakers to draft a solution addressing security concerns while allowing TikTok to remain operational. 

“And yes, even if TikTok stops working for a while because TikTok’s owners won’t sell at a fire sale price, Trump could convince Congress to change the law to bring it back,” Chander told Al Jazeera. 

Experts like David Greene from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), caution that Trump might back off on his promise to “save TikTok” because he has a history of reversing decisions, such as his initial executive order to ban TikTok in 2020. 

US officials’ main concern is TikTok’s Chinese ownership and how it could give Beijing access to American user data or manipulate the app for political purposes.  

In response, ByteDance launched “Project Texas,” a $1.5 billion initiative to store US data in the US under the control of a dedicated subsidiary and with oversight from US-based company, Oracle.  

What if the Trump Administration Bans TikTok? 

TikTok has faced bans and restrictions in various countries, including India, Australia, and parts of Europe, due to security concerns. In the US, the app is already banned on government devices and within certain state agencies. 

As the January 19 deadline approaches, the Trump TikTok decision could significantly define the platform’s future in the US. If the President-elect opposes TikTok ban, then it will regain users’ trust. However, it’s uncertain whether he will uphold his pledge to “save TikTok” or allow the Biden administration’s policies to proceed.  

If the Trump administration moves forward with banning TikTok, millions of American users could lose access to the app. The Trump TikTok ban could also set a precedent for future government restrictions on foreign apps, raising concerns about free speech and data privacy, and sparking tensions between the US and China, deepening the ongoing tech and trade rivalry. 

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