TikTok’s terse statement on Saturday sounded a sudden death knell of the popular video-sharing app.
“The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” app company said.
It warned that “unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.”
TikTok began to go “dark” Saturday evening in the U.S. until President Donald Trump stepped. Pressing the pause on the ban effected by the U.S. Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump gave TikTok a 75-day lifeline for a deal to be reached that will allow its 170 million subscribers in the U.S. to keep using the app.
Trump did not hide his affection for the social media app. “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” said the U.S. president, crediting his electoral success to the strong support among youth voters active on TikTok.
There is another reason Trump wants the app to remain live in the U.S.
“We have no choice. We have to save a lot of jobs,” Trump said on Sunday a day before his inauguration. “We don’t want to give our business to China. We don’t want to give our business to other people.”
He added, “So I said, very simply, a joint venture. So if TikTok is worth nothing, zero without an approved, you know, you don’t approve, they’re out of business.”
Then, he ventured a deal. “I’ll approve, but let the United States of America own 50 per cent of TikTok,” said Trump. “We’re going to have a lot of bidders. The United States will do what we call a joint venture.”
“I would like the United States to have a 50 per cent ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up,” Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“The deal I think is this. I’ve met with the owners of TikTok, the big owners, it’s worthless if it doesn’t get a permit… with a permit it’s worth like a trillion dollars. What I’m thinking of saying to someone is buy it and give half to the US, half, and we’ll give you a permit… the US will be the ultimate partner and the US will make it very worthwhile for them,” Trump explained.
There are already bidders seeking to obtain a stake in the app.