Trump’s Election Win: A Potential Lifeline for TikTok Amid a Federal TikTok Ban

As TikTok faces a looming federal ban in the U.S., Donald Trump’s recent election win could offer the platform a surprising twist of fate.

The Chinese-owned social media giant finds itself in an unexpected position. During Trump’s initial term, he was the one pushing for TikTok’s ban, a movement that fizzled when he lost the 2020 election. However, in his 2024 campaign, Trump changed his tune, rallying supporters with a bold message on Truth Social: “FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!”

Under current legislation signed by President Biden, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has until January 19, 2025, the day before Trump’s inauguration, to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban. ByteDance can request a 90-day extension, setting the stage for Trump to decide TikTok’s fate.

Trump’s original push to ban TikTok was grounded in concerns about data security and potential access by the Chinese Communist Party, reflecting a bipartisan stance among lawmakers. Although no evidence has surfaced of the CCP directly accessing TikTok user data, ByteDance’s access has sparked privacy concerns. However, Trump’s recent opposition to the ban stems from his belief that it would benefit Meta, which he sees as a “true enemy of the people.”

His alliance with billionaire GOP donor Jeff Yass, a 7% ByteDance shareholder, could also influence his perspective. Yass and his wife contributed over $96 million to conservative causes, adding another dimension to Trump’s stance on TikTok.

Yet, campaign promises don’t always translate into policy, leaving TikTok’s future uncertain even with Trump’s support.