TikTok announced on Sunday that it had restored access for U.S. users after a temporary shutdown caused by a federal ban. The platform went offline just as President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to delay the ban through an executive order on his first day in office. The order would give TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, more time to sell its U.S. operations.
The app had been removed from Apple and Google stores due to a law passed in April requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations over national security concerns. The law also imposed fines for non-compliance but allowed the president to grant a 90-day extension if a sale was underway.
On his social media platform, Trump said he aimed to extend the deadline and protect companies from penalties for keeping TikTok running. He also hinted at a potential 50% ownership stake in TikTok by the U.S., though he didn’t clarify if he meant the government or a private American company.
TikTok users had been surprised by the service interruption, with pop-up messages explaining the ban. Many creators, like beauty influencer Tiffany Watson, expressed sadness over losing access but planned to focus on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, thanked Trump in a video for his commitment to keeping the app available in the U.S., calling it a stand for free speech. Chew is also expected to attend Trump’s inauguration.
ByteDance has resisted selling TikTok, but new offers are emerging. AI startup Perplexity AI proposed a partnership to manage TikTok’s U.S. business without buying its algorithm, while other investors, including Kevin O’Leary and former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have also shown interest.
Despite concerns about TikTok’s ties to China, no evidence has been presented that ByteDance has misused user data or manipulated the app’s algorithm. However, national security concerns remain a driving force behind the ban. The Supreme Court recently ruled that these risks outweighed free speech concerns.
Trump’s executive order aims to resolve the issue and keep TikTok running, with bipartisan support for a fair solution that balances security and user access.
