Trump Set to Ban TikTok from the U.S. Through Executive Action

According to reports, President Trump has announced plans to ban TikTok from the United States through an executive action that could happen as soon as Saturday. “As far as TikTok is concerned we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump said to reporters while on Air Force One. “Well, I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that,” he said.

Trump’s TikTok ban could also squash the potential Microsoft deal on the table for the software company to acquire the video platform. The Chinese company that owns TikTok, ByteDance, was in talks with tech giant prior to Trump’s announcement. The president also made it clear that he isn’t in favor of any U.S. corporation acquiring the video platform. “Not the deal that you have been hearing about, that they are going to buy and sell . . . and Microsoft and another one. We are not an M&A [mergers and acquisitions] country,” said the president.