US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders banning TikTok and WeChat, terming the popular Chinese apps a threat

Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders banning TikTok and WeChat, terming the popular Chinese apps a threat to the country's national security and economy.

The ban comes into effect in 45 days, Trump said in two separate executive orders signed on Thursday.

Donald TrumpIndia was the first country to ban TikTok and WeChat, citing national security concerns. India has banned as many as 106 Chinese apps, a move welcomed by both the Trump administration and US lawmakers.

"The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security," Trump said in his executive order. In his next executive order he said the country must take "aggressive action" against WeChat to protect America's national security.

In a communique to the Congress, Trump said the spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned by companies in China continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy and economy of the country.

Trump noted that these risks have led other countries, including Australia and India, to begin restricting or banning the use of TikTok and WeChat.

TikTok

In recent weeks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused TikTok of collecting personal information of Americans.

Since Trump indicated last Friday to ban TikTok, tech giant Microsoft has said it is in talks to acquire the Chinese app's US operations.

Donald Trump

Trump said this week he would support the sale to Microsoft as long as the US government received a substantial cut of the sales price.

But he warned he would ban TikTok in the United States from September 15.