After vowing to permanently ban TikTok in his first term, former President Donald Trump has executed a stunning policy reversal. The man who once signed executive orders to banish the Chinese-owned app from American phones is now its unlikely champion.
The political whiplash is dizzying: Trump has transformed from TikTok’s would-be executioner to its unlikely white knight.
Funny how things change when you’re back in the hot seat.
In 2020, Trump thundered about national security threats and data privacy concerns. He wielded the International Emergency Economic Powers Act like a cudgel against ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Some whispered it was really about punishing China for COVID-19. Whatever the reason, the ban got tangled in courts.
Fast forward to 2024. Congress did what Trump couldn’t – passed a law forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban by January 19, 2025. The Supreme Court gave its blessing just two days before the deadline. Game over, right? Nope.
Trump, fresh off his election victory, suddenly discovered a soft spot for the platform. On inauguration day, he signed an executive order granting a 75-day extension. Then another. And another. The ban date now sits at September 17.
His new position? TikTok should stay alive but with “good hands” – specifically, 50% American ownership. It’s quite the pivot. The same app he once called a national security threat is now worth “hundreds of billions…maybe trillions,” according to his social media posts.
Trump has even suggested he might reduce tariffs on China in exchange for cooperation in facilitating TikTok’s sale to American investors.
Meanwhile, Apple and Google haven’t restored TikTok to their app stores, and Congress is raising eyebrows. The Speaker demands “true divestiture,” not half-measures. This mirrors concerns similar to when Microsoft’s proposal to acquire TikTok’s algorithm was rejected by ByteDance back during Trump’s first term.
Industry insiders are split. Some applaud Trump’s business savvy; others warn about massive liability risks if the deal falls through. The clock is ticking toward September.
The irony is thick enough to spread on toast. Trump’s journey from TikTok’s executioner to its potential savior proves one thing in politics: Yesterday’s enemy can become today’s business opportunity. Just don’t call it a flip-flop.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_TikTok_in_the_United_States
- https://techpolicy.press/a-tiktok-ban-timeline-from-rapid-passage-to-truce-with-trump
- https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/from-initiating-ban-to-touting-its-return-a-timeline-of-tiktok-and-trumps-relationship
- https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/02/tiktok-ban-timeline
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump–TikTok_controversy
