TIKTOK BAN

1.  The Original Threat:

          Former President Donald Trump issued executive orders in August 2020 declaring TikTok (owned by Chinese company ByteDance) a national security threat. He ordered it banned from US app stores unless it was sold to American owners by specific deadlines (initially mid-September, then mid-November).

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2.  The Proposed "Deal":

 To avoid the ban, ByteDance negotiated a complex arrangement:

    *   **Oracle** (

         database company) would become TikTok's "trusted technology provider," handling US user data and security.

    *   **Walmart**

          (retail giant) would take a significant commercial stake and handle e-commerce integration.

    *   A new US-headquartered company called **"TikTok Global"** would be formed to oversee US operations, with significant American ownership (including Oracle, Walmart, and US investors). ByteDance would retain a majority stake initially, but this was a point of contention.

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3.  The Stalling:

           While Trump initially gave the deal "his blessing" in September 2020, final approval from his administration (specifically the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US - CFIUS) stalled due to:

    *   **Ongoing Security Reviews:** 

         Concerns persisted about ByteDance's potential access to US user data and influence over content, despite the proposed Oracle/Walmart structure.

    *   **Ownership Disputes:** 

       Disagreements arose over the exact level of US ownership and control in TikTok Global and the relationship with ByteDance.

    *   **Legal Challenges:** 

          TikTok successfully obtained preliminary injunctions in US courts blocking the ban, citing lack of due process and overreach of executive authority. These challenges were ongoing.

    *   **The Election & Transition:** 

            Trump losing the November 2020 election and the impending Biden administration transition created uncertainty. Finalizing a complex, politically charged deal became less urgent for the outgoing administration.

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4.  The Postponement: 

Facing the imminent deadline and the unresolved deal/legal challenges, the Trump administration opted to delay the ban enforcement *again*.

    *   **Third Time:**

 This was the third extension granted since the original deadlines.

    *   **New Deadline:** 

The new deadline was pushed to **February 18, 2021**.

    *   **Reason Given Officially:** The administration cited ongoing litigation and the need to allow CFIUS more time to review the proposed deal.

5.  The Outcome & Context:

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    *   **Avoiding Immediate Disruption:**

          The delay prevented TikTok from being removed from US app stores on the December deadline, allowing it to continue operating normally for its millions of US users and creators.

    *   **Kicking the Can Down the Road:** 

         It effectively passed the decision on how to handle TikTok to the incoming Biden administration.

    *   **Biden's Actions:**

         When President Biden took office, he formally revoked Trump's executive orders targeting TikTok and WeChat in June 2021. However, he replaced them with a broader executive order directing a more methodical review of foreign-controlled apps posing security risks. The TikTok/Oracle/Walmart deal was effectively shelved, though the underlying concerns about data security and foreign influence remain part of an ongoing, complex regulatory review process.

          In simple terms

           Trump kept delaying the threatened TikTok ban because the proposed fix (selling parts to Oracle/Walmart) was stuck in negotiations, security reviews, and legal battles. The third delay pushed the decision past his presidency, and the Biden administration ultimately took a different approach, dropping the forced sale but continuing scrutiny.