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Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s top policy strategist in the US and a central figure in its fight against regulatory bans, is stepping down as the video-sharing platform faces continued pressure from Washington.
Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s Chief of US Public Policy and a prominent figure in the company’s defense against a potential US ban, is reportedly resigning. The news, first reported by The Information, marks a significant shift in TikTok’s American operations as political tensions continue to mount.
Beckerman, who joined TikTok in 2020, has been at the forefront of the platform’s responses to regulatory scrutiny and national security concerns. Known for his appearances at congressional hearings, he has played a key role in defending the platform’s data practices and distancing it from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
According to reports, Beckerman plans to leave Washington and may transition into a new advisory role within TikTok’s global operations.
His resignation comes just days after former President Donald Trump extended the deadline for TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer by 75 days or face a nationwide ban. Trump claimed that the Chinese government was deliberately delaying the approval process as retaliation for US tariffs. “If I gave a little cut in tariffs, they’d approve that deal in 15 minutes,” Trump said, emphasizing the leverage of tariffs in international negotiations.
The TikTok ban has become a key flashpoint in the ongoing economic and tech tensions between the US and China. In 2024, US Congress passed a bipartisan bill requiring TikTok to divest from Chinese ownership or face a ban—a move later signed into law by then-President Joe Biden.
ByteDance’s TikTok boasts over 170 million users in the US, making it one of the country’s most widely used social media platforms. Despite this popularity, the app was temporarily banned for 12 hours in January, following federal orders, before Trump signed an executive order granting a 75-day extension.
As Beckerman steps aside, TikTok’s public policy strategy in the US enters a new chapter, even as regulatory uncertainty continues to loom over its future.
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