Biden Administration Fumbles TikTok In Attempt To Sabotage Trump Transition

President Joe Biden's decision not to extend the TikTok ban by an additional 90 days, despite the provision in the law passed on April 24, 2024, allowing him to do so, can be seen as a calculated move based on several political and strategic considerations. First and foremost, Biden's inaction on this issue appears to be an effort to sabotage the Trump transition by censoring MAGA influencers on the TikTok platform and disrupting the online businesses of millions of Americans. This move coincides with his last full day in office, effectively passing the responsibility to the incoming Trump administration. By not extending the ban, Biden could be signaling his administration's exit from this contentious issue, potentially avoiding direct association with any backlash but also strategically affecting the political landscape at a critical time. In light of recent developments, President-elect Donald Trump has announced he will issue an executive order on his first day back in office to extend the deadline for TikTok, aiming to avoid an immediate ban and restore service, highlighting his intent to address the situation swiftly. 

Moreover, the decision could reflect Biden's administration's stance on national security concerns related to TikTok, a company owned by ByteDance, which is based in China. Since the law was enacted, the Biden administration has had about nine months to address the issue, during which time they've arguably fumbled in finding a resolution. The administration might have determined that there was insufficient progress towards divestment or data security improvements that would justify an extension. The law stipulates that such an extension could only be granted if there was evidence of significant progress towards a sale or if there were binding legal agreements in place. With no clear path to divestiture and ByteDance's resistance to selling TikTok, extending the deadline might have been seen as ineffective or even counterproductive to the national security objectives that motivated the ban in the first place. However, Trump has publicly stated his plan to reconsider the national security implications, suggesting a potential re-evaluation of the relationship between TikTok and ByteDance, which could lead to new negotiations or a different approach to divestment.

Lastly, this decision could be interpreted as a multifaceted political strategy. Beyond the immediate disruption to service, Biden's inaction might be aimed at framing the narrative for the incoming administration. By not intervening, he sets up Donald Trump to deal with the fallout, whether it's to extend the deadline or face the consequences of enforcing the ban. After fumbling the issue for nearly a year, this choice could serve as a test of Trump's policy direction, particularly after his previous flip-flops on banning TikTok, and could influence perceptions of his approach to technology policy and international relations with China. Trump's latest announcements indicate a shift back towards supporting TikTok, expressing that he sees the platform as a valuable tool for communication and business, especially for small enterprises. This scenario suggests Biden's strategy might not only be about national security but also about political maneuvering at the transition of power, setting the stage for Trump to either save TikTok or face immediate political pressure from its user base.