TikTok in process of restoring US service after Trump vowed executive order
Social media expert Ariadna Jacob discusses how TikTok users are turning to Chinese app Rednote in response to The Bottom Line’s decision.
TikTok said it was in the process of resuming operations in the US on Sunday after President-elect Trump promised to issue an executive order to extend TikTok’s operations. Inauguration Day.
Some US users reported being able to regain access to the app after Saturday’s outage.
Trump wrote on TRUTH Social that he was “asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark.”
“On Monday, I will issue an executive order to extend the deadline until the law’s bans go into effect so we can make a deal to protect our national security,” the president-elect continued. “The order will also confirm that it will not be held liable for any company that helped TikTok go dark before my order.”
“The American people deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump said.
TIKTOK Shout Out To Trump As The App Reaches About Us For A Million Users
President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and their son Barron board a U.S. Air Force jet bound for Dulles, Virginia on January 18, 2025 in West Palm Beach. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Trump is expected to take the oath of office Monday afternoon ET at the Capitol, officially taking office as the 47th president.
His post on Sunday did not specify how soon the extension would take effect or specify how long it would last.
Regarding the proposed national security agreement, Trump said he would like “the United States to have 50% ownership in the joint venture.”
“By doing this, we’re saving TikTok, keeping it in good hands and letting it go [stay] up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. It is worth hundreds of billions, maybe trillions,” Trump wrote. “So my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or the new owners that the U.S. gets. 50% ownership in a joint venture created between the US and any purchase we choose.”
TikTok’s account on X, which is dedicated to releasing policy updates, released a statement later Sunday saying:
“We thank President Trump for providing our service providers with the clarity and assurance they need that they will not face penalties, providing TikTok to more than 170 million Americans and allowing more than 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the statement said. “It’s a strong stance against 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.”
Apple and Google app stores The TikTok app was no longer available As of 10:50 PM EST on Saturday. President Biden signed bipartisan legislation last spring that required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform by Sunday or face a ban on the platform in the United States.
A TikTok ban message appears on a mobile screen with the TikTok logo on a tablet screen in this photo in Brussels, Belgium, on Jan. 19, 2025. (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The following pop-up message appeared for users who tried to access the TikTok app earlier on Sunday: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. There’s a law banning TikTok in the US, which means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us to restore TikTok when he takes office,” the message added.
Earlier on Sunday, Trump shared a two-word message on TRUTH Social.
The U.S. Capitol is seen at sunrise a day before President-elect Donald Trump’s second term inauguration on Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Instead of using the nine-month grace period to sell TikTok to an approved buyer, ByteDance, along with TikTok, sued.
The law was approved on Friday by the US Supreme Courtwhich pointed to national security risks related to the app’s ties to China.
Trump previously said he would have to “review” the ban before choosing a course of action, and that he would “likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension of the Jan. 19 deadline.
According to the law, the incumbent can extend the period by 90 days if the sale is in progress. ByteDance previously denied the idea of ​​selling TikTok.
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In a video released Friday, TikTok CEO Shaw praised Trump for his “commitment to working with us to find a solution that makes TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong stance against the First Amendment and arbitrary censorship.”
FOX Business’ Alexandra Koch, Bradford Betts, Landon Mion and Bree Stimson contributed to this report.
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