While you still can’t download TikTok from either Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play mobile storefront, President Donald Trump wants to make sure the American government can profit from it whenever the app returns.

To do so, Trump signed an executive order creating the U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund. But could Trump also use it to purchase the banned social media platform? Here’s what we know.

What is the sovereign wealth fund?

Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this week establishing the first-ever federal sovereign wealth fund.

A sovereign wealth fund is a government-owned fund that includes investments in foreign assets, typically stocks, bonds, real estate and technology.

Could the federal government use the sovereign wealth fund to buy TikTok?

In the case of TikTok, the U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund could be used to purchase the American assets of TikTok from the platform’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

Donald Trump didn’t explicitly say the fund would be used to purchase TikTok, but did hint that a development was in the works regarding the sale of the social media app.

TikTok still unavailable; no timetable on return

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that postponed the ban on TikTok, which was implemented by former President Joe Biden last year.

Trump’s order granted a 75-day extension, but on January 18, TikTok went dark, becoming unusable on mobile devices and desktops.

The platform was also wiped from American mobile app stores. 

TikTok was restored the next day for users who didn’t delete the app. But if you have already deleted the app from your phone, you will not have the option to restore it while the ban is in effect.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.