Biden delays TikTok ban, leaves decision to Trump administration

U.S. President Joe Biden announced today that he will not enforce the TikTok ban scheduled to take effect Sunday, a day before the inauguration of President-elect Donal Trump. Instead, the fate of the popular app will be left to the incoming Trump administration.

The decision comes as a surprise, given that the deadline for TikTok’s potential removal from the U.S. market is just days away. According to CNN, White House officials confirmed that the responsibility for how to handle the ban will now fall to the new Trump administration, given the fact that the ban was scheduled to take effect one day before Trump’s inauguration.

Biden's team is reportedly exploring ways to allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. without compromising national security concerns. Bruce Reed, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Biden White House, has reportedly received numerous calls urging the president to delay or block the ban.

Meanwhile, Trump’s foreign policy advisers have signaled their intention to find a way to keep the app running. Yesterday, National Security Adviser-designate Mike Waltz told Fox News that Trump is considering issuing an executive order to prevent the TikTok ban. "President Trump’s position is clear," Waltz said. "First, TikTok is widely used by millions of Americans. Second, he is committed to safeguarding user data." Waltz emphasized that Trump aims to negotiate an agreement that would protect American users’ privacy while allowing the app to remain in the U.S.

The Biden administration’s decision follows a 2024 law signed by President Biden, which mandated that ByteDance sell TikTok to a non-Chinese entity within 270 days or face a ban. The deadline for compliance is Jan.19.  

However, as the clock runs down, both sides are maneuvering to find a resolution. Reports suggest that the U.S. Supreme Court may issue a ruling as soon as today on whether the TikTok ban will be temporarily delayed.

As the deadline nears, all eyes will be on the incoming Trump administration, which will play a pivotal role in determining TikTok’s future in the United States.