Special Poll
President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to introduce an executive order aimed at preventing the federal ban of TikTok by proposing a unique solution that involves significant U.S. governmental ownership of the app. Trump disclosed on Truth Social that he plans to delay the implementation of existing legal restrictions to facilitate a negotiation that secures national security interests. He suggested forming a joint venture where the U.S. could acquire a 50% stake in TikTok as part of a deal with current or potentially new owners.
This approach to managing TikTok’s operations in the U.S. would likely require consent from the Chinese government due to the origins and management of ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Trump’s proposed strategy emerged after discussions with China’s President Xi Jinping, as noted by Trump’s soon-to-be national security advisor, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.). Waltz indicated that the Chinese government’s centralized control could play a crucial role in the negotiation process, highlighting the complex interplay of international politics and business in this issue.