Social media app TikTok could avoid a total ban in the U.S., after both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump consider options to save the platform.
According to a report from NBC News, Biden has been mulling over ways to prevent the app’s banning, which is set to happen Sunday. Officials told the news outlet the administration is “exploring options” on how to implement law to prevent it from being nixed.
“Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday,” an official told NBC News.
The report further notes if the administration goes ahead with its plan to prevent TikTok’s banning, it will then defer to Trump who will be inaugurated Monday.
However, another White House official reportedly said that not enforcing the ban is not an option.
“We are not considering deferring enforcement,” the official said. “Statutorily, we don’t believe we have the authority to do that.”
TikTok’s China-based owner ByteDance was ordered to sell the platform to an outside buyer within a nine-month period, with U.S. lawmakers citing the risks it poses to national security via data collection and possible spying.
According to The Washington Post, Trump has said he is also willing to save the app from complete ban via executive order, which would push back the ban for at least 60 to 90 days to allow more time for negotiations or to find an alternative solution.
Earlier this month, Trump posted his TikTok stats to Truth Social, which boasts billions of views and engagements on his account.
“Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?” Trump asked.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard TikTok’s challenge of the law last week and is yet to issue a decision on the matter. However, it is expected the law will be upheld, according to the WaPo.
This is not the only attempt at banning the platform, with some states spearheading its ban on government devices and within school districts. In 2023, a series of bills signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), banned the app from school district-owned devices in Florida, and further cracked down on TikTok’s use within the state.
DeSantis also cited the national security risks posed by the app as to the reason why the Florida Legislature was implementing the bans.
