Donald Trump officially began his presidency on January 20, immediately signing a significant number of executive orders aimed at addressing key issues. His first day in office was marked by a series of decisive actions that set the tone for his administration.
The now 47th President of the United States commenced his executive order signing during an indoor inauguration parade at Capital One Arena. Following this event, he proceeded to the White House, where he continued to sign additional orders, reflecting his commitment to swiftly implement his agenda.
Among the various measures he vowed to enact on his first day was an executive order related to the controversial TikTok ban, which he aimed to block and postpone. This action was part of a broader strategy to manage foreign technology concerns while considering the platform’s significant user base in the United States.
Keep reading to find out more about Trump’s actions regarding TikTok…
Trump signed the ?Application of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to TikTok? executive order, which laid out a framework for addressing the platform’s security implications. The order mandates that ?the Attorney General not take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today,? granting his administration time to evaluate the best path forward to ensure national security without hastily shutting down a communication platform relied on by millions.
The executive order clearly states, ?During this period, the Department of Justice shall take no action to enforce the Act or impose any penalties against any entity for any noncompliance with the Act, including distributing, maintaining, or updating any foreign adversary controlled application as defined in the Act.? This reflects a careful approach to national security that considers both safety and the needs of American users.
Trump emphasized his intention to engage in discussions with advisors, including leaders of relevant departments and agencies, to thoroughly address the national security risks posed by TikTok. He aims to find a resolution that safeguards national interests while preserving a platform that serves approximately 170 million Americans. His administration will also assess sensitive intelligence concerning these risks and review the effectiveness of mitigation strategies TikTok has implemented thus far.
In a notable event leading up to his inauguration, TikTok experienced a brief outage on January 18 but was swiftly restored within 14 hours. The platform attributed this quick recovery to Donald Trump providing essential clarity and assurance to service providers, which allowed them to continue offering TikTok to over 170 million Americans and supporting over 7 million small businesses that rely on the app for their operations.
Trump had previously declared a national emergency and signed an executive order in 2020, setting the stage for a potential ban on TikTok, illustrating the ongoing complexity of balancing national security with the interests of American users and businesses.
