TikTok announced on Sunday that it is in the process of restoring services in the United States after Donald Trump, who is set to take office as President on Monday, pledged to delay the app’s ban. The announcement comes as a reprieve for the popular video-sharing platform, which had gone offline for 170 million American users late on Saturday.
Earlier that day, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to declare his intent to issue an executive order granting TikTok additional time to find an American buyer. As part of his plan, he proposed that the U.S. government or an American firm acquire a 50% ownership stake in the app.
“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” Trump wrote. “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”
Background on the TikTok Ban
TikTok’s shutdown in the U.S. came after Congress passed a law in April mandating that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sell the app to a non-Chinese entity or face a complete ban. The decision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, leading to the app’s temporary cessation.
On Saturday night, U.S. users attempting to access TikTok were greeted with a pop-up message stating: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The sudden implementation of the ban, which initially only required app stores to remove TikTok, caught many users by surprise.
Trump’s Shift in Stance
Notably, Trump himself had been a driving force behind the push to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns over its ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, his perspective shifted during his 2024 presidential campaign, where he gained significant traction on the platform. This newfound support among TikTok users appears to have influenced his decision to intervene at the eleventh hour.
Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, expressed gratitude toward Trump for his efforts to prevent the app’s ban. In a video statement, Chew thanked the President-elect for providing clarity and assurance, noting the importance of the platform to American users and businesses. Chew is also expected to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
TikTok’s Statement and Restoration of Service
Following Trump’s announcement, TikTok confirmed it was actively restoring services for its U.S. users. The company issued a statement saying: “We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive. It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
Reports from users indicated that the app was operational again within hours of the announcement.
National Security and Ownership Concerns
Despite Trump’s decision to delay the ban, questions remain about the app’s long-term future in the U.S. Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stated in a Sunday interview with CNN that the administration had not ruled out allowing ByteDance to retain partial ownership of TikTok, provided adequate safeguards are implemented to protect user data on U.S. soil.
“We’re exploring options to save TikTok while ensuring national security,” Waltz added. “This includes evaluating potential buyers and establishing firewalls to protect American users.”
However, Republican lawmakers remain divided on the issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of fully severing TikTok’s ties to ByteDance and the CCP, warning that any extension of the deadline would undermine the intent of the original legislation.
“When President Trump said ‘save TikTok,’ we understood it as a commitment to ensuring a true divestiture,” Johnson told NBC’s Meet the Press. “This is about addressing the national security risks posed by TikTok’s ownership, not the app itself.”
Similarly, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and Senator Pete Ricketts issued a joint statement reiterating that ByteDance must sell TikTok outright to comply with U.S. law. “For TikTok to return online in the future, ByteDance must agree to a sale that satisfies the law’s qualified-divestiture requirements by severing all ties between TikTok and Communist China,” the statement read.
Bipartisan Efforts and Alternative Proposals
While some Republicans oppose extending the deadline, several Democrats have called for additional time to find an American buyer for TikTok. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said last week, “It’s clear that more time is needed to ensure a fair sale of TikTok to an American entity. This protects content creators, addresses national security concerns, and ensures the app’s survival.”
Meanwhile, private-sector interest in TikTok remains strong. Kevin O’Leary, a prominent investor and Shark Tank celebrity, recently offered $20 billion to acquire TikTok. Additionally, the AI company Perplexity AI has reportedly proposed a merger with TikTok U.S., rather than a full acquisition.
The Road Ahead
Trump’s intervention has provided a temporary lifeline for TikTok, but the platform’s future in the U.S. is far from secure. As lawmakers and industry leaders debate its ownership and regulatory framework, millions of Americans are once again able to enjoy the app’s content.
With the ban postponed, the Biden administration, Congress, and TikTok’s stakeholders now face the challenge of balancing national security, economic interests, and freedom of expression in determining the app’s fate.
