Will Trump Act Against TikTok in 2025?

With the historical shift from Biden to President Trump set for January 2025, unease looms over whether the Trump 2025 TikTok ban will go into action, further reigniting never-ending debates over national security and the sanctity of free speech.

In early 2024, the Biden Administration pushed ByteDance to divest TikTok’s operations in the country over concerns on how video-sharing platform impacts US citizens’ lives. During his campaign, Trump signaled a slightly more lenient approach toward the TikTok in the US, giving partial exposure to deep political differed opinions over TikTok’s role in American society.

Biden’s attempt to ban the app signals fears about foreign influence on US data, while Trump’s concerns raise the possibility that his administration may revisit the issue when he takes back the White House which raises worry about President Donald Trump banning TikTok.

A Debate over Security and Safety

Concerns about Donald Trump going to ban TikTok revolve around the fact that the popular social media application is owned by ByteDance China, which allows the application to be accessed by the Chinese Government.

In January 2024, Biden signed legislation forcing ByteDance to completely sell TikTok to continue its operations in the US or face an outright ban. Biden’s administration never took action to ban the app in the US where 170 million users not only use it as a form of entertainment but have jobs on it.

The hopes are high for the Trump administration, which have not mentioned anything regarding Donald Trump plans to ban TikTok.

In a video to supporters, Trump said, “If you want to save TikTok, vote for me”. This was a hint that Trump was giving to his supporters as he might be reconsidering the usage of the app. Even though he is reconsidering the concerns on data security and national interests, it is not clear how long TikTok will be supported by Trump.  

TikTok’s Response on the Matter

TikTok’s lawsuit against the federal government’s mandate remains in Washington DC’s Court of Appeals. If it loses, the company is likely to appeal the case to the Supreme Court – a process that could push any action to summer 2025.
Employees at TikTok remain cautious but unconcerned about the pending ban or even if an action where to happen leading Donald trump ban on TikTok. The general thinking amongst them seems to be that it could take several months or even years for it to be settled in court.

“There’s almost a consensus not to talk about this thing,” a product manager at TikTok, unnamed, said in an interview with Wired. “Maybe it’s time to jump ship, but those discussions rarely come up.”  That lack of urgency reflects both uncertainty and a belief that a legal battle is delayed, which is giving the employees time to focus on what they have for the time being.

If the case finally makes its way to the Supreme Court, lawyers for TikTok say it could become a landmark First Amendment issue.

“It’s a core First Amendment question. The Supreme Court has shown in the last few years that it cares about these digital First Amendment cases,” said Alan Rozenshtein, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Can Donald Trump Actually Ban TikTok?

Going from Biden’s to Trump’s administration as of January 2025, wouldn’t go unnoticed in their differing views about the platform, but at this very moment, it hasn’t been decided. Since the TikTok case is still in the courts, a Trump 2025 ban would likely aim to enforce or redefine Biden’s original mandate. This move could signal a broader strategy focused on data security.

According to experts, Trump’s decision might also depend on his administration’s general attitude toward China and digitization policy.

Whether or not the Trump 2025 TikTok ban would remain live in the US would depend on whether the incoming administration moves to ban the app directly or goes through national security concerns across. In the ongoing debates over Donald Trump on TikTok ban, any outcome would ripple well beyond the future of this app to shape the legal landscape awaiting technology companies that do business in the United States.

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