Apple Retains TikTok on App Store Following Pam Bondi's Assurance

Apple has decided to keep the TikTok app, owned by ByteDance, available on its App Store for an additional 75 days. This decision came after assurances were provided by Attorney General Pam Bondi, as reported by Bloomberg News.

This development occurred after the President issued another executive order, imposing a new deadline. TikTok faces a U.S. ban unless ByteDance divests its American operations as required by a national security mandate, originally signed by the former President in April 2024.

In a letter to Apple, AG Bondi highlighted that the company is expected to comply with the extended deadline. Bondi's letter also assured Apple that it would not face repercussions for allowing TikTok to remain on its platform, according to anonymous sources in the report.

Apple has yet to comment publicly on the matter.

Previously, TikTok was temporarily removed from the App Store in January following the initial ban deadline, making it inaccessible to U.S. users until February 13. It was reinstated after Apple received an earlier assurance from Bondi.

This deadline extension was announced just days after the President declared a cumulative 54% tariff on goods from China. Before the new tariffs were enacted on April 2, the President suggested leveraging tariff reductions to expedite ByteDance's sale of TikTok's U.S. business.

During a March press briefing, the President remarked, "TikTok is significant, but each percentage point in tariffs exceeds TikTok's value. Perhaps I'll consider a tariff reduction to facilitate this transaction."