US President Joe Biden has decided not to enforce a ban on TikTok that was set to take effect a day before he leaves office, according to a US official who spoke to the Associated Press. Instead, the responsibility for the app’s future will fall to President-elect Donald Trump.
Last year, Congress passed a law—signed by Biden—that required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app by January 19, one day before the presidential inauguration. However, Biden’s administration has chosen to leave the enforcement of the ban to Trump and his incoming team.
The official, who spoke anonymously, revealed that internal discussions within the Biden administration focused on handing over the issue to the next president. Trump, who initially pushed for a ban on TikTok over national security concerns, has since pledged to keep the app available in the US. However, his transition team has not detailed how this will be achieved.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration and is reportedly being offered a prominent seat on the dais. Trump’s national security adviser has hinted that the new administration may take measures to prevent TikTok from going offline in the US.
For now, the future of TikTok remains uncertain as the nation transitions to new leadership.