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TikTok Goes Back Online Thanks to President-Elect Trump
TikTok announced on Sunday that its services in the U.S. were back online, just hours after the app went offline due to a federal ban imposed by President-elect Donald Trump.
On his first day in office, Trump announced his intention to delay the ban through an executive order, giving the app’s parent company, ByteDance, more time to find a suitable buyer.
Trump shared on his Truth Social account that the order would temporarily allow TikTok to remain operational after the app’s removal from Google and Apple stores. The companies pulled TikTok to comply with a law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations by Sunday. The law passed with bipartisan support in April and imposed heavy noncompliance fines.
TikTok’s U.S. team posted on X, confirming Trump’s announcement brought “clarity and assurance” to service providers, ensuring they wouldn’t face penalties for keeping the app available to over 170 million users.
Shortly after, some users reported the app was working again, though it remained unavailable for download in the app stores. Apple and Google did not respond to requests for comment.
The new law, effective Sunday, required ByteDance to sever ties with TikTok’s U.S. operations over national security concerns. However, the president was authorized to grant a 90-day extension if negotiations for a sale were in progress.
Despite multiple offers, ByteDance had previously refused to sell, with Trump confirming his order would push back the ban’s enforcement and protect companies supporting TikTok before his action.
“Americans deserve to witness our Inauguration and participate in other important conversations,” Trump stated. Meanwhile, tennis star Coco Gauff referenced the ban after her win, drawing a broken heart on a camera lens with the message “RIP TikTok USA.”
Legally, Trump’s plan faced uncertainty, as the Supreme Court upheld the ban on Friday, citing national security risks tied to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
On Saturday night, U.S. users attempting to access TikTok were met with a pop-up stating the app was unavailable, adding, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.” Confusion arose because experts noted the law didn’t require TikTok itself to go offline immediately, only app store removals. Existing users were expected to retain access until the app’s functionality degraded without updates.
Late Saturday, Apple confirmed it had removed TikTok and other ByteDance apps, such as video editor CapCut and Lemon8, which some users had promoted as alternatives. Apple stated it must follow laws in regions where it operates.
Trump’s decision to pause the ban reflected its timing and TikTok’s unique role in the political landscape. During his first term, Trump attempted to ban TikTok and WeChat in 2020, but courts blocked those efforts. Although he opposed recent congressional attempts to ban the app, Trump later credited TikTok for helping him gain support from young voters in the last election.
Initially pushing for the sale-or-ban law, the Biden administration clarified it wouldn’t enforce the ban before Trump’s inauguration. ByteDance, which has consistently opposed selling TikTok, said no buyer emerged in the nine months since the law’s passage. Trump hoped his team could help secure a deal to keep the app running.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump late Saturday for his efforts to protect the app’s accessibility in the U.S., calling it a stand for free speech. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with prominent seating.
During a weekend call, Trump’s national security adviser nominee, Michael Waltz, revealed that Trump discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders agreed to collaborate on the issue.
Lawmakers and officials have long voiced concerns over TikTok’s algorithm and its potential for Chinese government interference. However, no public evidence shows ByteDance sharing data or manipulating content for China’s benefit.
Source: The Associated Press
