Will TikTok still be banned? Trump's TikTok ban pause may not last

TikTok statement thanking President Trump for delaying ban. — TikTok statement thanking President Trump for delaying the ban.
Image: @TikTokPolicy on X

Fast facts: Future of the TikTok ban

President Trump issued an executive order on January 20 extending TikTok's ban deadline by 75 days.
Legal experts have noted that a lawsuit to overturn the executive order is possible and prominent lawmakers have stated there is no legal basis to extend TikTok's deadline.
Users should save their favorite videos to their devices and look for other platforms in case the ban is upheld.

On January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to find a buyer before the federal government bans the app. Unfortunately for TikTok users, legal experts and Republicans in Congress are questioning the legal footing of the order, meaning a ban on the app is still possible.

Trump has stated he wants to find a U.S. buyer for TikTok to save the app permanently. However, ByteDance—TikTok's parent company—has resisted selling thus far. Until formal sale negotiations are in place, TikTok's future remains uncertain despite any moves taken by the Trump administration.

Updated March 14: TikTok is still facing an April 5 deadline to be sold, but President Trump has indicated he will likely extend the timeline for TikTok again. Check out our survey on how TikTok users reacted to January's temporary shut down for more information.

Why could TikTok still be banned?

TikTok could still be banned because the Trump administration is attempting to use an executive order to circumvent federal law. If his order is challenged in court, it could be rolled back, once again endangering TikTok's status in the United States.

Trump's order directs his Justice Department not to enforce the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. That law mandated the sale of TikTok by January 19 because it is primarily owned by a Chinese company. It was passed with a bipartisan majority, signed by former President Biden, and upheld 9-0 by the Supreme Court.

If the platform was not sold, its technology partners—such as Oracle, Apple, and Google—could be fined $5,000 per user for platforming the app. On January 18, TikTok temporarily took itself offline in the United States until it had assurances from the incoming Trump administration that no action would be taken.

Legal experts have noted that Trump's executive order may be on shaky legal footing. The president does not have the authority to overturn the law on his own. Since the Supreme Court has already upheld it, attempting to avoid enforcement is likely to attract lawsuits.

Republican lawmakers such as Senator Tom Cotton have also maintained that there is no legal basis for extending TikTok's ban date. He stated the law is in effect, and any company that violates it by platforming TikTok risks severe financial penalties. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also stated in recent interviews that the federal government will enforce the law.

My statement with @SenatorRicketts on TikTok being removed from app stores. pic.twitter.com/RwLcKBOxBw
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 19, 2025

Despite Trump's order, most companies are being cautious. While TikTok is once again available in the United States, Apple and Google have not returned the platform to their app stores.

What is the future of TikTok?

TikTok will likely be sold or banned in the United States. Trump has claimed that his order pauses the ban for 75 days to give his administration time to review the law and allow TikTok to find a buyer.

If there is a legal challenge to Trump's executive order, it likely won't be completed within the next 75 days. However, the threat of a lawsuit means it's unlikely the pause could be extended again unless ByteDance announces it is negotiating with a buyer.

Several potential offers to purchase TikTok have been discussed, but ByteDance has not committed publically to any of them. Trump has announced his support for Elon Musk or Larry Ellison to purchase the platform. If no buyer is found by the deadline, TikTok may once again go offline.

What should TikTok users do?

TikTok users should prepare for more uncertainty in the coming months. Users should save their favorite videos directly to their devices, and content creators should attempt to move their audiences elsewhere.

While the future of TikTok is unclear, efforts to ban other apps are only growing. ByteDance's Lemon8 has also vanished from the app stores due to the same law impacting TikTok. Likely, RedNote—where thousands of TikTok users fled during the initial ban—will soon be challenged, too.

There are alternatives if you're tired of fleeing apps that might soon be banned. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are two of the most popular options. A potential ban will not threaten them because they are owned by Meta and Google, both U.S.-based companies.

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Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

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