TikTok Restores Service in U.S. After Ban, President-Elect Donald Trump Promises Reprieve

TikTok users across the United States rejoiced Sunday as the app’s service flickered back to life mere hours after a federal ban took it offline.

The dramatic pause in the platform’s availability came in response to a law requiring the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations, citing national security concerns.

President-elect Donald Trump, set to return to office Monday, pledged to intervene with an executive order granting ByteDance a 90-day extension to finalize a sale. Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, calling TikTok “an integral part of American digital culture.”

“I’ll be issuing this order on Day One of my administration,” said President-elect Trump.

“Americans deserve the freedom to connect, create, and share without interruption. We will work toward a solution that prioritizes both national security and free speech.”

In a post on X, TikTok confirmed the platform’s return, saying President-elect Trump’s announcement reassured service providers they would not face penalties for restoring access. Millions of users quickly noted the app’s functionality was back, though it remained unavailable in Apple and Google app stores.

The ban stems from bipartisan legislation passed in April 2024, which mandated that ByteDance sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a complete ban. Lawmakers said the app’s Chinese ownership posed risks of data breaches and foreign influence.

The Supreme Court upheld the law last Friday, and the ban officially took effect Saturday night. However, the statute granted the sitting president authority to delay its enforcement if ByteDance actively pursued a sale—a loophole Trump intends to exploit.

While some lawmakers have applauded Trump’s move, others remain skeptical. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) warned U.S. companies against supporting TikTok, citing potential liabilities under the law.

“Any company enabling TikTok’s continued operations risks ruinous legal consequences,” Cotton said. “We passed this law for a reason: to protect American security and sovereignty.”

The battle over TikTok’s future has drawn attention from investors and tech innovators. Over the weekend, AI startup Perplexity AI proposed a merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations, though ByteDance has not publicly responded.

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump’s promise to intervene has bolstered hopes for a resolution. TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked him for defending free speech and pledging to work with his administration.

“Together, we can ensure TikTok remains a space for creativity and connection for millions of Americans,” Chew said.

With the app’s fate hanging in the balance, Trump’s upcoming executive order could chart a new course for the platform. Whether TikTok ultimately survives the political and legal gauntlet remains to be seen—but for now, U.S. users are enjoying its unexpected revival.

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