
Washington DC: TikTok began restoring its services in the United States on Sunday, just hours after going dark, following an announcement from President-elect Donald Trump. Trump stated that he would reinstate access to the popular social media platform upon assuming office on Monday.
The Chinese-owned app expressed gratitude towards Trump, crediting him for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance” that enabled it to resume operations. The platform had been forced to suspend services to comply with a ban order issued by the Biden administration.
TikTok Thanks Trump for Support
In an official statement, TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, confirmed the ongoing process of restoring service.
“We thank President Trump for ensuring that our service providers will not face penalties for keeping TikTok available to over 170 million Americans and supporting over 7 million small businesses. This is a strong stance for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We look forward to working with President Trump on a long-term solution to keep TikTok operational in the US,” the company said.
Addressing users directly, TikTok added, “Thanks to President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US.”
Trump’s Executive Order to Delay Ban
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce plans for an executive order that would delay the enforcement of the TikTok ban for 90 days. He emphasized that his administration seeks a “joint venture” approach to keep the app in the country.
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” Trump wrote. He further assured that his executive order would include protections against legal liabilities for companies supporting TikTok’s continued operations.
Trump’s Changing Stance on TikTok
Speaking at a rally ahead of his inauguration, Trump reiterated his commitment to keeping TikTok in the US. “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” he declared.
TikTok had ceased operations late Saturday as a law banning the platform on national security grounds took effect. US officials have long raised concerns that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could share American user data with the Chinese government.
Trump’s recent advocacy for TikTok marks a stark shift from his stance during his first term. In 2020, he sought to ban the app over national security concerns and had pushed for ByteDance to sell its US operations. However, more recently, he has expressed a “warm spot” for TikTok, crediting it with helping him connect with young voters in the 2024 election.
Previous Attempts at a TikTok Deal
Trump had previously attempted to broker a deal in August 2020, signing an executive order that gave ByteDance 90 days to sell TikTok. The plan later evolved into a partnership structure involving Oracle and Walmart taking stakes in the company. With Trump set to return to the White House, TikTok’s fate in the US remains a key issue in ongoing negotiations.