To avoid the app’s closure on the president’s last day in office, the administration is seeking a solution, according to the news outlet.
According to NBC, the Biden administration is investigating ways to maintain TikTok’s US operations despite a federal law mandating the app’s shutdown this Sunday. This legislation, signed by President Biden last year, requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest from its US operations or face a shutdown.
The White House is reportedly exploring various options to keep TikTok accessible to its estimated 170 million American users, NBC reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
This action, the article states, would prevent the app’s shutdown from coinciding with the end of Biden’s presidency, shifting responsibility to the incoming Trump administration. This represents a departure from Biden’s prior attempts to ban TikTok. Last year’s legislation set a January 19, 2025, deadline for ByteDance to divest; non-compliance leads to TikTok’s removal from US app stores and the loss of essential infrastructure, effectively ending its US operations.
“Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday,” a White House official told NBC, adding that officials are “exploring options” for implementing the law without disrupting TikTok’s service.
The law reportedly grants the president the authority to grant a single 90-day extension if “significant progress” is made towards divestment.
The measure was enacted due to US national security concerns; lawmakers voiced fears about potential Chinese access to user data and the possibility of Beijing manipulating content to influence Americans. TikTok has consistently denied these allegations.
TikTok and ByteDance have reportedly sought a delay in enforcement, arguing the law violates the First Amendment’s free speech protections.
During Supreme Court oral arguments last week, justices expressed skepticism toward TikTok’s free speech claims. Chief Justice John Roberts highlighted Congress’s finding that ByteDance is obligated under Chinese law to aid in intelligence gathering.
Lawmakers were “not saying TikTok has to stop,” Roberts reportedly stated. “They’re saying China has to stop controlling TikTok.”
TikTok has reportedly prepared for a Sunday shutdown; anonymous sources told Reuters that US users will see a pop-up message explaining the ban and offering a data download option.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump is also reportedly considering delaying the ban, potentially through an executive order extending the compliance deadline by 60 to 90 days to facilitate further negotiations.