Florida Representative Mike Waltz, President-elect Trump’s choice for national security adviser, revealed in a Wednesday interview that Trump is considering ways to “preserve” TikTok.
Waltz shared this insight after Fox News anchor Bret Baier questioned him about a Washington Post report suggesting Trump might issue an executive order to halt the enforcement of a federal law that could ban TikTok nationwide by Sunday.
The Supreme Court recently heard arguments challenging the law, brought by TikTok, its China-based parent company ByteDance, and app users. The Justices appeared inclined to uphold the law, which mandates that ByteDance either divest from TikTok over national security concerns or face a ban in the U.S.
Addressing the situation, Waltz stated, “If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the law, President Trump has been clear on two points: TikTok is a widely used platform that has greatly benefited his campaign, and he is committed to protecting users’ data.”
Highlighting Trump’s negotiation style, Waltz added, “He’s a deal maker. I can’t reveal details about upcoming executive orders, but we’re working to create space for a deal to happen.”
Meanwhile, Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, avoided answering whether she would support a TikTok ban during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
Trump’s stance on TikTok has shifted since his first term when he sought to ban the app over security concerns. However, during his 2024 presidential campaign, he joined TikTok to engage younger voters—particularly young men—by sharing bold, viral content. He even vowed to “save TikTok” during the campaign, crediting the platform for helping him attract more youth voters.
