Trump says he will ‘most likely’ delay TikTok ban temporarily, but has not made final decision | CNN Business

CNN - Jan 18th, 2025
Open on CNN

President-elect Donald Trump announced he is considering delaying the ban on TikTok for 90 days, with a final decision expected after he takes office on Monday. This potential delay follows the Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold a bipartisan law that mandates the ban, which was initially set to take effect unless a significant sale of TikTok to a US-owned company was confirmed. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has been actively engaging with Trump, including meetings at Mar-a-Lago, in efforts to negotiate terms ahead of the deadline. Without the delay, TikTok is at risk of going offline as early as Sunday.

The deliberation over TikTok's future in the US underscores the broader implications of US-China relations and the growing scrutiny over data privacy and national security concerns associated with foreign-owned tech platforms. A delay would provide additional time for negotiations, potentially impacting the operations of TikTok and its millions of US users. This development highlights the challenges faced by policymakers balancing national security interests with economic and cultural considerations. The situation remains fluid, with further updates anticipated as Trump assumes office and makes his final decision.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a well-researched and accurate account of President-elect Donald Trump's consideration to delay the TikTok ban. With a high level of factual accuracy, the story is supported by reliable sources, though it could benefit from clearer source attribution within the text. The balance of perspectives could be improved by incorporating more viewpoints from TikTok and other stakeholders, which would offer a more rounded understanding of the issue.

The cited sources are reputable, enhancing the story's credibility, but explicit reference to these sources within the story could improve transparency. Despite this, the story presents the necessary context for readers to understand the situation, albeit with room for greater disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.

Clarity is a strong point, with the story structured logically and written in clear language. However, additional detail on the legal and political nuances would aid comprehension. Overall, the news story is a reliable and informative piece that, with minor enhancements, could provide an even more comprehensive view of the developing situation.

RATING DETAILS

9
Accuracy

The news story presents a highly accurate account of President-elect Donald Trump's consideration to delay the TikTok ban. The accuracy check corroborates the main claims with reliable sources such as iHeartRadio, TIME, CNN Business, and CBS News, which confirm key details like Trump's statement about the delay, the legal background, and the Supreme Court's decision.

The story accurately reflects Trump's statement from a phone interview, where he mentioned the possibility of a 90-day extension. This detail aligns with reports from multiple sources, adding credibility to the narrative. The context provided about the bipartisan law and Supreme Court ruling is also consistent with verified information, further supporting the story's factual basis.

However, slight variations in wording regarding the timeline of Trump's inauguration and the effective date of the ban highlight areas where additional clarification could enhance accuracy. Despite these minor discrepancies, the core message is consistently supported by the cited sources, making the overall accuracy of the story commendable.

7
Balance

The news story primarily focuses on Trump's perspective, which is understandable given that the narrative revolves around his decision regarding the TikTok ban. However, the representation of perspectives could be more balanced. For example, the story briefly mentions TikTok's CEO Shou Chew's interactions with Trump but does not delve into TikTok's stance or response in detail.

Including more insights from TikTok, such as statements from the company or further elaboration on their efforts to address national security concerns, would provide a more balanced view. Additionally, while the story mentions the bipartisan nature of the law, it could enhance balance by exploring differing opinions among lawmakers or public sentiment on the issue.

Overall, while the story effectively conveys Trump's considerations, the inclusion of a broader range of perspectives, particularly from TikTok and other stakeholders, would offer a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

8
Clarity

The language and structure of the news story are generally clear and concise, effectively conveying the main points of Trump's considerations regarding the TikTok ban. The use of direct quotes from Trump adds authenticity and helps clarify his stance, while the chronological structure aids in understanding the sequence of events.

However, certain segments could be improved for clarity. For instance, the story briefly mentions TikTok's potential shutdown on Sunday but doesn't immediately connect this to the Monday decision announcement, which could be confusing for readers unfamiliar with the timeline.

Additionally, while the tone remains neutral and professional throughout, the story could benefit from a more detailed explanation of the legal and political implications of the ban, which would help readers grasp the complexity of the issue. Overall, the story is well-written, but slight adjustments in structure and detail could enhance its clarity further.

8
Source quality

The sources cited in the accuracy check, including iHeartRadio, TIME, CNN Business, and CBS News, are reputable and well-regarded for their journalistic integrity. These outlets have a track record of reliable reporting, which bolsters the credibility of the information presented in the news story.

The variety of sources ensures a robust cross-verification of facts, which strengthens the overall reliability of the narrative. However, the story itself does not explicitly reference these sources or any others within its text, which could improve transparency about where the information originates.

While the cited sources are strong, the story could further enhance its credibility by explicitly naming the outlets or experts consulted for each piece of information presented. This would provide readers with a clearer understanding of the source material and allow them to assess the reliability of the information more independently.

7
Transparency

The news story provides a clear overview of Trump's potential decision to delay the TikTok ban and includes relevant context about the legal background and Supreme Court ruling. However, the story could improve transparency by disclosing more about the sources of its information, such as direct quotes from the interview with NBC News.

Additionally, while the story mentions that it is a developing situation, it does not outline specific plans for updates or how readers can access them, which would enhance transparency. It also lacks disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest or affiliations of the journalists or news outlet, which is important for maintaining impartiality.

Overall, while the story presents sufficient context for readers to understand the situation, it would benefit from greater transparency in terms of source attribution and disclosure of any factors that might influence the reporting.

Sources

  1. https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-01-18-as-tiktok-prepares-to-go-dark-trump-says-hell-likely-delay-ban-temporarily/
  2. https://time.com/7207995/trump-tiktok-ban/
  3. https://keyt.com/news/money-and-business/cnn-business-consumer/2025/01/18/trump-says-he-will-most-likely-delay-tiktok-ban-temporarily-but-has-not-made-final-decision/
  4. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-supreme-court-congress/