TikTok resumed operations for users in the United States on Sunday, only hours after a sudden suspension linked to a federal ban. President-elect Donald Trump stated he would sign an executive order on his first day in office to delay the ban and allow TikTok’s Chinese parent company additional time to secure an approved buyer. This announcement was made on his Truth Social account as a wave of U.S. TikTok users found themselves unable to access the popular video-sharing platform.
By Sunday afternoon, users who logged in were welcomed with a message thanking them and Trump for their support: “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” The platform initially shut down late Saturday in response to a federal law mandating parent company ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by Sunday. Additionally, both Google and Apple had removed TikTok from their app stores. The law, passed with notable bipartisan backing in April, imposes heavy fines for non-compliance.
In communication on X (formerly Twitter), the company managing TikTok in the U.S. suggested that Trump’s outlined actions had provided necessary clarity for their service partners, ensuring no penalties would arise from this temporary standstill. Despite this, the TikTok app remained unavailable in the Apple and Google stores. Market analyst Jasmine Enberg characterized the situation as a savvy marketing move for both TikTok and Trump, asserting that the abrupt outage showcased the unpopularity of the federal ban among users.
The ban itself stems from concerns regarding national security linked to TikTok’s connections with China. The new law necessitated that ByteDance disassociate from its U.S. operations, but it also allowed the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a legitimate sale was underway. Although there were investor offers, ByteDance has reportedly refused to sell. Trump asserted that his executive order would “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect” and clarify that those assisting in keeping TikTok operational prior to his order wouldn’t face repercussions.
However, it’s unclear how effective Trump’s actions will be from a legal perspective, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban days prior, and the law took effect just before his return to the White House. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who authored the legislation, indicated during an interview that TikTok would not receive an extension. He emphasized that any potential extension hinges on whether the president can confirm ongoing divestiture processes.
Legal expert Carl Tobias noted that while Trump may argue that the law’s wording applies to any president, some bipartisan lawmakers who initially supported the sale-or-ban legislation still back its enforcement. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas cautioned companies against offering TikTok any technical support, warning of severe financial liabilities under the law. Constitutional attorney Kirk McGill expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s legal authority to suspend the ban but mentioned that any legal battles could take time, suggesting the initial conflicts would likely manifest as political rather than judicial disputes.
The precarious status of TikTok reflected the U.S. Supreme Court’s determination that the security risks associated with the app’s ties to China overshadow concerns about restricting user speech. Users attempting to access TikTok late Saturday were met with a notification declaring that the platform was unavailable due to the enactment of the ban. The app faced removal from major app stores, with Apple also taking down other ByteDance applications, including Lemon8, CapCut, and Hypic, citing compliance with local laws.
Despite the app’s temporarily restored operation, experts indicated the law didn’t necessitate TikTok’s removal from the platform—only from app stores. Current users expected to continue enjoying access until the absence of updates rendered the app inoperative. Following TikTok’s return, content creator Tiffany Watson expressed hopes for the platform’s stability. Yet she also noted a decline in her loyalty during the period the ban loomed.
Trump’s attempt to intervene with TikTok coincidentally aligns with the timing of the ban and is layered with complex political implications surrounding a platform that rose to fame through fun and engaging video content. During his presidency in 2020, Trump tried to impose bans on TikTok but faced judicial setbacks. He credited TikTok for garnering support from younger voters in recent elections, and speculation existed about the TikTok CEO attending Trump’s inauguration as a prominent guest.
On a recent call, Trump discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with both sides reportedly agreeing to collaborate on the matter. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has reiterated that it has no plans to enforce the ban before Trump assumes office.
As for potential purchasers of TikTok, ByteDance has maintained its refusal to sell, and no prominent buyers have emerged yet. Recently, AI startup Perplexity AI presented a proposal to create a joint entity that would incorporate TikTok’s U.S. operations. Notably, Perplexity does not request ownership of TikTok’s user-focused algorithm, which has been a focal point of U.S. concerns regarding vulnerabilities to foreign influence.
The ultimate decision regarding TikTok’s fate remains uncertain, as observers note Trump has previously shifted his stance on the platform, and there are no definitive assurances he won’t do so again.