BREAKING: Trump most likely will give TikTok 90 day extension

I break down what this all means

President-elect Donald Trump revealed in a phone interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Saturday that he is “most likely” to grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a U.S. ban. This extension would allow the app’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, more time to sell to a non-Chinese buyer. The current compliance deadline is Sunday, a day before Trump’s inauguration.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will most likely happen because it’s appropriate,” Trump stated, adding he would announce a decision on Monday.

Although the extension aligns with the bipartisan law passed last year, TikTok has warned it might still need to “go dark” temporarily without clear legal assurances. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed TikTok’s warning as “a stunt,” emphasizing that enforcement responsibility would shift to the next administration.

The law, signed by President Joe Biden last April, mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban due to national security concerns over its ties to the Chinese government and the collection of Americans’ personal data. Trump’s stance marks a reversal from his previous attempts to ban TikTok during his first term.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the law, rejecting TikTok’s free speech arguments. Following the ruling, Trump said he needed time to review the situation and hinted at finding alternatives to banning the app. TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his efforts and is expected to attend Monday’s inauguration alongside other tech executives.

Despite the looming deadline, Biden administration officials confirmed they would not enforce the law on Sunday, leaving the decision in Trump’s hands. TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, as users and lawmakers await Trump’s final decision.