TikTok ban: Trump says he will ‘most likely’ give app a 90-day extension

TikTok could be handed a 90-day reprieve by Donald Trump (Jeff Chiu/AP)

US president-elect Donald Trump has said he would “most likely” give TikTok 90 more days to work out a deal that would allow the popular video-sharing platform to avoid a US ban.

Mr Trump said in an NBC News interview that he had not decided what to do but was considering granting TikTok a reprieve after he is sworn into office on Monday.

A law that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing TikTok to US users takes effect on Sunday.

The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate

Under the law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last year, TikTok’s China-based parent company had nine months to sell the platform’s US operation to an approved buyer.

The law allows the sitting president to grant an extension if a sale is in progress.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at,” Mr Trump told Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker in a phone interview.

“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate.

“We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.

“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”