Democrats urge Trump to collaborate on TikTok's future

Three Democratic senators are calling on President Donald Trump to collaborate with Congress to save TikTok from being banned in the U.S. after April 5th. This follows a law that requires TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app to avoid a ban. The senators, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, and Cory Booker, express concerns about Trump's current plans, which could lead to heavy financial liabilities for TikTok's service providers. The senators argue that Trump's decision to extend the divestment deadline until April is both "unacceptable" and "unworkable." They say the law has strict penalties for companies that continue to work with TikTok after the deadline. Trump's previous stance included a ban on TikTok during his first term, but he recently indicated he would not enforce the ban for 75 days after returning to office. However, experts point out that maintaining this stance may not hold up legally, as he did not utilize mechanisms that would legally support such an extension. Concerns remain about the impact on companies involved with TikTok, like Oracle, Apple, and Google. While some companies may trust Trump’s assurances, others are hesitant. The senators emphasize that any further extensions could expose these companies to significant legal and financial risks. Senators propose an alternative solution by asking Trump to work with Congress on a bill aimed at extending the TikTok divestment deadline to October. They believe that any viable plan to save TikTok needs Senate support to ensure it can operate legally in the U.S.