Experts query legal basis for ban on TikTok

National security concern deemed hazy for Trump order requiring US divestiture

Two executive orders by US President Donald Trump that have put TikTok's US operations in play for a potential sale are puzzling experts who point to the unusual legal basis for his stepped-up actions against the Chinese video-sharing app.

Trump issued two executive orders on Aug 6, with each banning United States transactions with Tik-Tok and Chinese social media app WeChat from Sept 20 over national security concerns. A second order against TikTok followed a week later.

The first two orders draw legal authority from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, which allows the president to regulate economic transactions in a national emergency.