Photo: Alamy
Video-sharing app TikTok was restored to Google and Apple app stores Thursday night after being removed over a legal ban requiring the company to divest from China-based ByteDance.
The change came following a reported letter from the Trump administration’s U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, notifying the companies they would not be punished for offering the app while negotiations continue with TikTok’s parent company.
“I’m going to make it worthwhile for China to do it,” Trump said at a press conference on Thursday when asked about making a deal concerning the app, Politico reported.
“It will be to China’s advantage to have the deal be made,” he said.
“Well, I have 90 days from about two weeks ago, and I’m sure it can be extended,” he said. “But let’s see. I don’t think you’ll need to.”
Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office in January to give ByteDance 75 days to sell TikTok before implementing a ban on the app.
The order delayed the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act from being enacted following a Supreme Court ruling.
“I am instructing the Attorney General not to take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans,” the order read.
“During this period, the Department of Justice shall take no action to enforce the Act or impose any penalties against any entity for any noncompliance with the Act,” it added.
Trump previously wrote on Truth Social that he planned to sign the order to “save TikTok.”
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump wrote.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” he continued.
