It looks like Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again relationship with TikTok might be entering its honeymoon phase – despite the president-elect’s previous push for the app to be banned during his first term.
The US Supreme Court voted against keeping TikTok in the country on January 17, leaving the fate of the beloved app in the hands of the soon-to-be sitting president.
The president-elect has stated that he would “most likely” delay the ban on TikTok for 90 days but has not made a decision yet, during a phone interview with NBC News on January 19.
“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told moderator Kristen Welker.
“We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.”
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
Trump has previously stated a vow to “save” the app and will “put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark,” according to Trump’s incoming National Security Advisor and Florida Congressman, Mike Waltz.
The president-elect met up with TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, back in December, and Chew has since thanked Trump in a video message on January 17, following the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States,” Chew said in the video.
“This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”
“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform — one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process.”
This stark contrast might stem from Trump’s popularity with the youth market, resulting in an ever-increasing internet presence that first began back in 2016 (remember what happened to Pepe the Frog?).
In a post-election conference in December, Trump mentioned how TikTok played a role in his campaign: “You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points and there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it”.
Whether or not Trump ends up being the saving grace to an app he once vehemently denounced remains up in the air.
While Americans wait for Trump to make the call on TikTok, it appears the app has shut down in the country alongside the apps Lemon8 and Capcut — which are also owned by ByteDance.
However, knowing Trump’s current tech infatuation and inviting moguls such as Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk into his inner circle, perhaps the app could experience the American dream once more. Only time will tell.
The post US President-Elect Donald Trump Says He’ll ‘Most Likely’ Give A 90-Day Pause To TikTok Ban appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
