Following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban on TikTok, the White House has announced that the responsibility of implementing the law will be passed on to the incoming Trump administration. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that President Biden's stance on TikTok has been consistent, emphasizing that the app should remain available to Americans under American ownership or ownership that addresses national security concerns.
Despite calls from Democratic lawmakers to delay the law's effect, the Biden administration is constrained by the timing of the decision and acknowledges that actions to enforce the law will need to be carried out by the next administration, set to take office on Monday.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had urged Biden to extend the availability of TikTok beyond the impending deadline, but the law permits an extension of up to 90 days only if significant progress is made in negotiations for the purchase of TikTok. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has maintained its stance of not intending to sell the app, thus hindering the possibility of a 90-day extension.
A White House official highlighted that for a 90-day extension to be granted, the company must present a credible divestment plan, which ByteDance has failed to do so far. The situation remains uncertain as the transition of responsibilities regarding the TikTok ban unfolds with the change in administration.
