House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said President-elect Trump is expected to find a way for TikTok’s sale to a U.S. owner.
Jeffries noted in an interview on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" Sunday that the bipartisan legislation Congress passed last year was aimed at forcing the sale of TikTok from its China-based parent company due to national security concerns.
“What it required was divestiture and American ownership,” Jeffries said. “It's my expectation that the new administration will find a way to achieve that, because, as I understand it, we're in the ‘America first’ era.”
Cooper cut in, noting recent discussion of “joint ownership.” President-elect Trump said Sunday he would like the U.S. to have a “50 percent ownership position” in order for the platform to remain available to American users.
“Well, we'll see what ideas actually get presented. It would have to be accomplished through legislation,” Jeffries said.
Ahead of Sunday's deadline for the app to divest from Chinese parent company ByteDance or be banned, TikTok cut off U.S. access to the platform.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” a message read when American users opened the app.
However, on Sunday, TikTok said it was “in the process” of having U.S. service returned, only around 12 hours after it cut off access to American users.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said on the social platform X.
The company credited the incoming Trump administration, which is pushing for the platform to stay on app stores in the U.S.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” TikTok said.
The Hill has reached out to TikTok for comment.