Under Trump Pressure... 'US-born' TikTok CEO Resigns Less Than 100 Days After Taking Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The CEO of the Chinese video-sharing application TikTok, which is under pressure from the Donald Trump administration in the United States to sell, stepped down less than 100 days after taking office.

According to major foreign media including the New York Times (NYT) on the 27th (local time), Kevin Mayer, a U.S. native who joined TikTok on June 1, recently announced his resignation in a message sent to employees of TikTok and its parent company, Chinese ByteDance.

He said, "In recent weeks, with the rapidly changing political environment, I have been seriously considering what structural changes might be necessary and what my role should be," adding, "I am heavy-hearted to inform you of my decision to leave the company." He also mentioned, "I understand that the U.S. government's move to demand the sale of TikTok's U.S. business may make my role appear very different." He further added that TikTok's future is "incredibly bright."

The New York Times reported that Mayer's resignation reflects the difficult situation TikTok faces amid escalating U.S.-China tensions. Previously, as U.S.-China conflicts intensified, TikTok appointed a U.S.-born CEO to give a favorable impression to the U.S. administration, which was seen as a strategic move.

However, after Mayer took office, the Trump administration signed an executive order banning the use of the TikTok app in the U.S. citing national security concerns, and TikTok responded with legal action, which is interpreted as narrowing Mayer's position. The Trump administration also signed an executive order earlier this month requiring TikTok to sell its U.S. assets within 90 days.

The acting CEO will be Vanessa Pappas, TikTok's General Manager for the North America region.

TikTok confirmed the resignation in an email statement, saying, "In recent months, the political role has significantly changed the scope of activities Mayer could pursue. We respect his decision." The White House did not immediately respond to the New York Times' request for comment.

ByteDance founder and CEO Zhang Yiming expressed support for Mayer's decision in a separate statement, saying, "Mayer was with the company during its most difficult moments." He also added, "ByteDance and the TikTok app are moving quickly to resolve issues in the U.S. and India, where they have been banned."