TikTok’s Future Remains Unclear in the US as Trump Hosts Talks on Sale

So what’s the latest on TikTok and its future in the US?

Well, that depends on who you ask.

To clarify, from now on it’s TikTok operates illegally in the USbecause of “The Protecting Americans from Apps Controlled by a Foreign Enemy Act“, which was approved by the Senate, signed by President Biden and took effect on January 19.

Under the law, since TikTok was not sold to a US company within the originally defined deadline, it is now banned in the region, with all providers supporting the app liable for fines of $5,000 per user of the application to facilitate its ongoing work.

Apple and Google removed TikTok from their app stores for this reason, however President Trump’s assurances that they will not be punished for breaking the law. Oracle, which facilitates the day-to-day operation of the app, accepted Trump’s promises, which is why TikTok continues to work for American users. Although no one new can download it (so, uh, don’t accidentally delete it).

President Trump issued an executive order early last week that gives TikTok an additional 75 days to secure a deal to keep the app operating in the US. Though again, that order doesn’t negate the law that’s already been passed, so TikTok is currently illegal in the US.

And now, Trump wants to secure a new contract for the app.

Over the weekend, reports suggested that the Trump administration is currently working with Oracle and Microsoft facilitate a new deal that will allow TikTok to meet its obligations under the act and remain operating in the US. The suggestion is that Oracle and/or Microsoft will take a significant stake in TikTok, while current owner ByteDance will retain majority ownership of the app.

It is unclear whether this will meet the requirements of the law, but according to Trump, he didn’t actually discuss any sale of TikTok to Oracle.

As reported NPR:

“When asked about Oracle’s Air Force One talks Saturday night, Trump denied he had spoken with Oracle’s Larry Ellison about taking over TikTok. Larry is my friend, Trump said. ‘I’ve never spoken to Larry about TikTok. I’ve talked to a lot of people about TikTok. There is a lot of interest in TikTok,’ he said.

So any deal on that front could be further along than the first report suggested, although more talks are expected to take place in Washington this week.

But basically, TikTok is currently banned in the US, even though it’s not, and the US government is trying to negotiate a deal where TikTok would be sold to Oracle and/or Microsoft, but it’s not.

Then again, maybe both of these things are true, while other suitors, like YouTube star MrBeastare also reportedly still lurking as possible options to take ownership of the US element of the app.

Another potential option could be Elon Musk, although Musk himself has given no indication that he would be interested in buying TikTok and running another social platform.

In the end, then, the news about TikTok is that it will still be sold, and likely to a group that leans significantly toward President Trump. Which could end up giving the Trump administration more influence over how the app is used in the US

Talks are still ongoing and there is no clear way forward yet.