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TikTok awaits Trump executive order to grant time for deal

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China signals open to deal to keep TikTok operating in US

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Not all in Republican Party support 'Save TikTok' efforts

(Adds Trump signing TikTok executive action)

By Kenneth Li and Katie Paul

Jan 20 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump signed an

executive order on Monday delaying by 75 days the enforcement of

a ban of popular short-video app TikTok that was slated to be

shuttered on Jan. 19.

The short video service used by 170 million Americans was

briefly taken offline for U.S. users on Saturday, hours before a

law that said it must be sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance on

national security grounds took effect on Sunday. U.S. officials

had said that under ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans'

data being misused.

TikTok restored access on Sunday and thanked Trump for

providing assurances to TikTok and its business partners that

they would not face hefty fines to keep the app running. The app

and website were operational on Monday, but TikTok was still not

available for download in the Apple ( AAPL ) and Google app stores,

suggesting the two companies were waiting for clearer legal

assurances.

Trump's order hours after he was inaugurated on Monday

directs the attorney general to not enforce the law "to permit

my administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate

course of action with respect to TikTok."

The order directs the Justice Department to issue

letters to companies like Apple ( AAPL ), Alphabet's

Google and Oracle that supply services to TikTok

"stating that there has been no violation of the statute and

that there is no liability for any conduct that occurred during

the above-specified period."

The debate over TikTok comes at a tense moment in U.S.-China

relations. Trump has said he intends to place tariffs on China

but has also indicated he hopes to have more direct contact with

China's leader.

"Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it," Trump said

at a rally on Sunday ahead of his inauguration, adding that the

U.S. will seek a joint venture to restore the app used by half

of Americans.