Trump said he would suspend the ban on TikTok by executive order

President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Sunday he would issue an executive order to end a federal ban on TikTok, just hours after major app stores pulled the popular social media site and stopped operating. This is for US users.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok go dark,” Mr. Trump said in an article on Social Truth. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline before the ban goes into effect, so we can reach an agreement to protect national security.”

The ban stems from a 2024 law that requires app stores and cloud computing providers to stop distributing or hosting TikTok unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Lawmakers passed the law amid concerns that the Chinese government could use the app, which it says has about 170 million users in the United States, to collect information about Americans or spread propaganda.

App stores and cloud computing providers that do not comply with the law face potential financial penalties. Mr Trump said in his post on Sunday that he would “confirm that there will be no accountability for any company that helped keep TikTok out of the dark before the order.”

The executive order will mark a new phase in the battle for the future of apps, which have changed the world of social media and popular culture, and created livelihoods for millions of activists and small businesses who rely on the scene.

By issuing the order, Mr. Trump will raise questions about the rule of law in the United States. His move was an attempt to temporarily override a law that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court last week.

It is unclear whether Mr. Trump’s efforts will succeed. The executive order could face legal challenges, including whether it has the power to suspend federal law enforcement. Companies subject to the law may decide that the ordinance does not provide sufficient assurance that they will not be penalized for violations.

The law allows the president to grant a 90-day extension if there is a buyer, but only if there is “significant progress” toward a deal that puts TikTok in the hands of a non-Chinese company. This agreement must also be completed within 90 days for the president to begin the extension. And it is not clear if this extension option is still available, because the law is already in force.

In his post on Sunday, Mr. Trump suggested that he “would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in the partnership,” without providing further details.

TikTok has said the sale is not possible, citing the global nature of its operations, and China has already signaled it will block exports of its vital video streaming technology.

Last Saturday, TikTok sent a message to users saying the site was down but, “thankfully, President Trump has announced that he will work with us on a solution.” On Sunday, the language changed when some users opened the app.

“TikTok is temporarily unavailable,” the message said. “We are working hard to resolve this issue. Thanks for your patience.

TikTok and several Democratic members of Congress in recent days have made a last-ditch effort to keep the app online. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, told President Biden privately that allowing the app to go dark on his watch would hurt his legacy.

TikTok’s critics began their pressure to keep the possible ban. Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has called out some of the biggest tech companies recently to say they need to comply with the law, according to ‘the three people familiar with the call.

On Sunday, Mr. Cotton and Senator Pete Ricketts, Republican of Nebraska, in a joint statement, praised Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft for complying with the law, noting that violations could lead to bankruptcy.

“Now that the law has gone into effect, there is no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of the effective date,” they said. Only the sale will allow TikTok to continue operating.

Maggie Haberman SY Karen Weise contributed to the report.