CNN
—
TikTok could go dark in the US on Sunday, going offline after the Supreme Court upheld a ban on the Chinese social media platform – but it could be back as soon as Monday.
President-elect Donald Trump said he would “most likely” delay banning TikTok for 90 days after taking office Monday, but noted he had not made a final decision in a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday.
“I think that would definitely be an option that we look at. The 90 day extension will most likely be granted as it is appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We need to examine it carefully. This is a very serious situation,” Trump said in the interview.
“If I decide to do it, I will probably announce it on Monday,” he added.
The suggestion of an expansion is the latest twist in a months-long saga, leaving the fate of the app — with its 170 million U.S. users — in limbo.
The law passed last year with bipartisan support. ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, was either expected to sell the app to a new non-Chinese entity or face a ban in the United States.
Many U.S. users told CNN they were preparing for the end of the app, including influencers and other small businesses who said they depend on the platform for their livelihoods. Still, they said, they hoped the app would be saved somehow.
But the Supreme Court upheld the ban on Friday, dashing hopes of last-second legal assistance.
Later Friday, TikTok said it would go offline on Sunday unless there is action from the Biden administration.
The law passed last year allows the president to delay the ban taking effect for 90 days, but requires proof that parties working to arrange the sale of TikTok to a U.S. company have made significant progress.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home in the weeks before the ban took effect and is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
