President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz has announced that the Trump administration is actively working to bring TikTok back online after the popular app was banned following a Supreme Court decision. The ban was upheld, causing the app to go dark overnight.
Waltz stated that Trump has the authority to grant ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, a 90-day extension if significant progress is made towards selling the app to American ownership. However, ByteDance has not taken substantial steps in this direction.
Despite this, Waltz mentioned in an interview that Trump is considering providing the app with additional time to facilitate a potential deal. The goal is to ensure that tech companies, app stores, providers, and cloud storage have confidence that efforts are being made to reach a resolution and prevent the app from remaining offline.
Waltz emphasized that the administration is actively engaging with various tech companies to bring TikTok back online and protect American data from any potential interference. He assured that steps are being taken to address any national security threats posed by the app.
He expressed confidence that TikTok can be saved and continue to exist, whether under American ownership or with data and algorithms fully safeguarded against Chinese interference. Waltz highlighted that there are multiple potential solutions to ensure the app's future.
The Trump administration's efforts to address the TikTok ban and potential sale reflect ongoing concerns about data security and national security risks associated with Chinese-owned apps. The administration is working diligently to find a resolution that protects American interests while allowing TikTok to operate in a secure manner.
