Trump aims to protect TikTok as sale deadline approaches

In an unexpected turn, former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok over national security issues in 2020, is now looking to shield the app from new legislation demanding its parent company, ByteDance, sell TikTok to an American buyer by this Sunday or face a U.S. ban.

As Trump prepares for his second term, he is reportedly contemplating an executive order that would invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This order could assert that keeping TikTok operational is vital for national security, according to Anupam Chander, a Georgetown Law School professor.

Trump could argue that maintaining TikTok would prevent users from switching to RedNote, a Chinese app directly managed by the Communist Party and subject to its censorship. The proposed order may also suggest that tech companies like Apple and Google would not be penalized for keeping TikTok in their app stores past the legal deadline.

However, experts caution that such a move could lead to significant legal and political repercussions. Chander remarked, “When a president chooses not to enforce a law and promises no penalties to those affected, it raises serious questions about the balance of power.”

While recognizing the potential creativity in Trump’s approach, Chander warned that it could undermine Congress and set a troubling precedent regarding the use of national security authority.