US President-elect Donald Trump is considering issuing an executive order that will delay enforcing a 60 to 90-day ban or TikTok sale. The move aims to give his government time to negotiate alternative solutions related to the popular video app of Chinese company ByteDance, which is scheduled to be banned from next Sunday.

Trump, known as the "deal-making expert," is exploring unconventional ways to save TikTok, including through executive orders that could overturn legislation that Congress has passed with bipartisan support. Two sources familiar with the discussion said Trump wanted to be seen as the platform's savior, which he said was an important tool to achieve young audiences and maintain his popularity during his second term of office.

"I have a special place in my heart for TikTok," Trump said last month.

The law signed by President Joe Biden last year required ByteDance to sell TikTok to the United States before January 19 or face a direct ban. The law is meant to address US Department of Justice concerns that the Chinese government could use the app to spy on Americans or spread propaganda.

The Supreme Court, which last week heard TikTok's legal challenges to the law, is expected to allow the law to remain in effect. However, no official decision has yet been announced.

Trump has directed political advisers and his allies to look for options that allow him to save TikTok and take credit for the achievement. One of the options under consideration is encouraging Congress to revoke the law "an difficult step given the wide bipartisan support." Another option is to direct the Attorney General not to enforce the law.

Some Trump allies also suggested separating certain parts from TikTok for sale to American companies, giving them control over the app. During his first term, Trump has pushed the sale of part of TikTok's shares to corporate giants such as Oracle and Walmart, provided the US Treasury Department gets a share of the proceeds.

However, TikTok's sales are considered unrealistic given its political risks and astronomical prices, which are estimated at around $50 billion. In addition, the Chinese government has banned the export of the TikTok recommendation algorithm, which is the core of its app technology.

"The executive order is not a magic document. It's just a press release on luxury paper," said Alan Rozenshtein, a former Department of Justice's national security adviser. TikTok will still be banned, and remains illegal for Apple and Google to do business with them.

Trump's allies, including Kevin O'Leary and Frank McCort, have expressed interest in taking over the app with various schemes. However, ByteDance firmly rejected this sales option.

Meanwhile, Trump supporters are trying to describe efforts to save TikTok as a way to criticize Biden's regulatory legacy. Public support for TikTok's ban has also decreased, from 50 percent in 2023 to 32 percent last summer, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.

TikTok itself continues to maintain its operations in the US despite the uncertainty. Employees at the TikTok headquarters in Culver City, California, admit that they have not received clarity regarding the company's plans if the app is banned.

Analysts believe that TikTok could be a means of negotiation in bilateral relations between the US and China, particularly in trade and tariff issues. However, many are skeptical that an agreement could be reached in the near future without the direct involvement of high-ranking officials from both countries.

Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, is expected to use this moment to strengthen his image as an accomplished negotiator and at the same time take over the public narrative regarding the fate of TikTok in the US.


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