TikTok started restoring service in the United States on Sunday following President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to prevent the short-form video-sharing platform from remaining dark.
At a rally held in a sports arena in Washington on the eve of his return to the White House, Trump boasted about his role in saving the popular app, telling the crowd, “As of today, TikTok is back.”
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Washington on Jan. 19, 2025. (AP/Kyodo)
TikTok went offline Saturday night in the United States, hours before a new federal law banning the popular app on national security grounds was set to take effect.
TikTok Inc., owned by Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., said in a statement, “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.”
TikTok said it will cooperate with Trump on “a long-term solution” aimed at enabling the app to operate in the United States.
Before the restoration of service, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he would issue an executive order on Monday, when he takes office, to ensure that companies that helped TikTok reinstate its U.S. service would not be held liable for breaking the national ban.
The ban was signed into law by President Joe Biden in April following passage with bipartisan congressional support.
Trump said the planned order will extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect so there could be “a deal to protect our national security.”
Crowds gather near a Washington sports arena, the venue of a rally for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 19, 2025. (Kyodo)
TikTok and ByteDance have asserted the law is “unconstitutional” as it tramples on the free speech rights of U.S. users. They have also denied alleged connections with the Chinese Communist Party.
The law was upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday.
In his post early Sunday, Trump proposed a joint venture between TikTok’s existing owner and a new U.S. company, in which the latter would hold a 50 percent stake.
Under the law, the president can issue an extension of the deadline by 90 days if there is progress toward a divestiture.
At the “victory rally,” Trump said he “likes TikTok” as the app is very popular among younger Americans and his campaign’s use of it helped him win the 2024 election.
Trump also suggested TikTok is instrumental in creating many jobs and business opportunities. “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it. A lot of jobs. We don’t want to give our business to China. We don’t want to give our business to other people,” he said.
Trump’s move came despite his hawkish stance on China. After his phone talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, the president-elect disclosed that TikTok was one of the issues discussed.
Related coverage:
TikTok goes dark for U.S. users hours ahead of ban
China’s Xi, Trump hope for “good start” to ties
Trump’s pick for top diplomat Rubio urges China not to destabilize Asia
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