TikTok Ban, Reprieve, and Ownership Restructuring

TikTok resumed operations in the United States on inauguration day after the platform said it received assurance from Trump regarding the app's status. The future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain despite its restoration.

Trump signed an executive order suspending a refugee ban and pausing the U.S. TikTok ban through an executive order that provides a temporary pause to "determine appropriate course forward." Meanwhile, advocates reported that over 1,600 Afghan refugees eligible for resettlement remain stranded waiting to flee Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Trump is exploring options to save TikTok, with potential buyers including Elon Musk, MrBeast, and Larry Ellison being discussed amid the app's legal challenges in the United States.

Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments to create a sovereign wealth fund that could potentially purchase TikTok after the president delayed the app's ban.

Trump set an April 5 deadline for a TikTok deal decision, according to a Trump official, as the administration continues to pressure the Chinese-owned app regarding its U.S. operations.

Trump threatened Europe and Canada with 'large scale' tariffs if they band together to 'do economic harm' to America. He also floated the possibility of reducing tariffs on China in exchange for a TikTok deal, as the social media app faces an April 5 shutdown deadline unless sold to a non-Chinese owner.

Trump announced he will consider final proposals on TikTok's future as the US ban deadline approaches on Saturday, with owner ByteDance required to find a non-Chinese buyer for the app's American operations. The administration is weighing the final decision on whether to enforce the ban or allow a sale.

Trump extended the TikTok sale deadline, which was originally set for Saturday, to avoid a ban. The president indicated he was considering decreasing tariffs to facilitate a deal with a non-Chinese buyer for the app.

Trump announced plans to extend TikTok's reprieve from a U.S. ban through another executive order, giving the popular video app additional time to alter its ownership structure. The move continues Trump's pattern of delaying the app's potential prohibition despite national security concerns.

Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a third reprieve from a U.S. ban, extending the deadline for the Chinese-owned app to find a buyer until September. The app has 170 million users in the United States.

President Trump said he found buyers for TikTok and identified them as 'a group of very wealthy people,' though he did not reveal their identities and noted the Chinese government would need to approve any sale.

Trump announced that negotiations with China regarding a TikTok deal will begin next week, declining to enforce the statutory ban on the social media platform while discussions continue for an American company to acquire it.

The White House launched an official TikTok account, marking a significant reversal from Trump's 2020 pledge to ban the app. The president has softened his position after reportedly believing the platform helped him win the 2024 election.

The U.S. and China reached a framework deal on TikTok ownership, marking a breakthrough in their long-running dispute over the app's ownership amid security concerns. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the agreement was reached at talks in Madrid.

Trump celebrated a TikTok deal while Chinese officials suggested the platform could operate using China's algorithm, raising questions about who would ultimately control the app's video feed. The development complicates the Trump administration's previous efforts to ban or force the sale of TikTok.

Trump announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to approve a TikTok deal, though details remain unclear. The statement marked the first direct contact between the two leaders since June.

Trump revealed that Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, along with Michael Dell, may be involved as investors in a potential U.S. deal for TikTok to avert a ban. Fox Corporation is reportedly considering participating in the bidding effort.

President Trump signed an executive order allowing US investors to take an 80% stake in TikTok, separating the app from Chinese owner ByteDance. The agreement transfers the platform to US ownership.

The Abu Dhabi royal family, through MGX chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreed to take a 15% stake in TikTok US under a Trump administration deal, valuing the social media platform at $14 billion.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the US and China had reached a 'final deal' on a TikTok sale as part of a broader trade framework, though specific details were not disclosed.

TikTok signed a Trump-backed deal to avoid a U.S. ban, establishing a joint venture to take over part of the app's U.S. operations, including data protection, algorithm security, and content moderation.

Trump was sued over his administration's TikTok deal, with critics alleging that the agreement benefited firms that enriched the president personally.

The Trump administration reportedly is set to receive $10 billion in fees from investors who took control of US TikTok operations from its Chinese parent company. The arrangement represents an exceptionally rare fee paid to the administration in connection with a major corporate deal.