Millions of TikTok users in the U.S. woke up to find they could no longer access the TikTok app or platform, and President Trump announced the decision in a post on his Truth Social account. Google and Apple removed the app from their digital stores to comply with a federal law that requires them to do so if TikTok’s parent company ByteDance does not sell its U.S. operations by Sunday, the Associated Press reported.
He said his order “extends the period until the law’s ban goes into effect” and “confirms that companies that helped keep TikTok from going dark prior to my order will not be liable.” It is something that will be done.”
“Americans have a right to watch Monday’s exciting Inauguration Ceremony and other events and conversations,” Trump wrote.
The law authorizes the sitting president to grant a 90-day extension if a viable sale is in progress. Investors had made several offers, but ByteDance had previously said it would not sell. Trump said in a post on Sunday that he “would like the United States to have 50% ownership of the joint venture,” but it was not immediately clear whether that was a reference to the government of the U.S. company.
MNA