TikTok has started restoring its services to users in the United States following a brief and voluntary shutdown that lasted less than 24 hours. This development comes after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to temporarily pause the enforcement of a controversial law targeting the app as soon as he assumes office.
In a statement issued on Sunday, TikTok expressed gratitude for Trump’s assurances and emphasized its commitment to working with the incoming administration.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive. It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” the statement read.
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The crisis stems from a law passed by Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last week, which mandates that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, divest from the app by January 19, 2025. If ByteDance fails to comply, the app faces a complete shutdown in the United States. The law, enacted over concerns about national security and data privacy due to TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government, has left the company with a stark choice to sell its U.S. operations entirely or cease them.
While ByteDance has argued that divestiture is unfeasible, claiming that TikTok’s value is intrinsically tied to its proprietary algorithms, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed these appeals. The Court ruled that the law does not violate free speech rights, emphasizing national security concerns tied to TikTok’s data collection practices and potential obligations under Chinese law to share user data with Beijing.
ByteDance has maintained that the sale of TikTok without its core algorithms would render the app virtually unusable, requiring years of redevelopment. Nonetheless, the law allows for a 90-day extension if a divestiture process is actively underway. Experts suggest that even with President-elect Trump’s intervention to grant TikTok additional time, the company remains in a precarious position unless a deal is struck swiftly.
TikTok’s Shutdown and Swift Revival
Late Saturday night, TikTok went dark in the U.S. just before the midnight deadline. Users attempting to access the app were greeted with a stark message: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”
The app was also removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play, although its accessibility remained unaffected in other countries. International users could still interact with American accounts, but U.S.-based content was temporarily inaccessible.
On Sunday, President-elect Trump used social media to assure Americans of TikTok’s return. In one post, he declared “SAVE TIKTOK” and later pledged to issue an executive order on his first day in office to pause the enforcement of the law. Trump suggested that a viable solution could involve the U.S. government taking a significant ownership stake in TikTok to ensure both its continued operation and the protection of national security.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump said. He added, “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars—maybe trillions.”
The law targeting TikTok, which was integrated into a foreign assistance package signed by President Biden in 2024, sprang from bipartisan concerns about the app’s capacity to collect vast amounts of user data and its potential misuse by the Chinese Communist Party.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed optimism about the app’s future under Trump’s administration, stating, “We are committed to finding a solution that allows TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. for years to come.”
However, while Trump’s executive action could grant a 90-day reprieve, the clock is still ticking for ByteDance to secure a buyer or navigate a resolution that satisfies U.S. lawmakers and courts.
Adding to the uncertainty is the potential for significant economic disruption. TikTok serves as a critical platform for over 7 million small businesses and is a source of income for countless creators. Its temporary shutdown has already sparked concerns about the broader impact on digital commerce and content creation.
President-elect Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, assured the public that the administration is committed to resolving the TikTok dilemma. Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Waltz noted that Trump had discussed the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping and indicated a willingness to collaborate on a solution that balances national security with economic and cultural considerations.
“We can have an app that protects Americans,” Waltz said, pointing to the possibility of a government-backed ownership structure or stringent oversight to address security concerns.