US President-elect Donald Trump will find a way to save TikTok before a ban on the app takes effect this weekend, his new national security adviser said.
Congressman Mike Waltz, Republican of Florida, said Trump would intervene if the Supreme Court upholds a law banning the platform in the US unless it is sold by January 19.
In the last week, the Biden administration is also looking for ways to prevent the sudden disappearance of TikTok, NBC News reports.
Chinese owner ByteDance said it plans to shut down the app for its 170 million US users by Sunday.
“We will put in place measures to keep TikTok from going dark,” Waltz said Thursday.
He noted that the law allows a 90-day extension for ByteDance if significant progress is made toward the sale.
“It basically buys President Trump time to keep TikTok going,” Waltz said.
A day earlier, the new national security adviser hinted on Fox News that Trump plans to issue an executive order in an attempt to suspend the ban.
However, it is unclear whether such a measure could bypass legislation passed by Congress.
The app was banned for national security reasons, due to concerns that its data could be collected by the Chinese Communist Party.
But according to the New York Times, Trump has invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to attend his presidential inauguration next Monday, sitting in a place of honor at the podium.
Trump had previously asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban – which would have taken effect the day before he was sworn in – so he could seek a “political” solution.
Congress passed bipartisan legislation last year that gave TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, nine months to find a US-approved buyer or face a ban on the platform in the United States.
The law doesn’t ban the app’s use, but it does require tech giants like Apple and Google to stop offering it and ban updates, which analysts suggest would kill it over time.
President Joe Biden signed the bill last April as part of an aid package for Ukraine and Israel.
But NBC News reports that Biden has also considered ways to keep the app available if the ban goes into effect.
Under that plan, they would delay the question, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to NBC.
TikTok and ByteDance deny any ties to the Chinese government. They also ruled out sales.
The Supreme Court heard arguments from TikTok and Bytedance against the law last week.
A decision is expected every day.
Both Biden and Trump have changed their positions on the platform.
Trump tried to ban the app during his first term, but campaigned this year that he would protect it.