TikTok restores service as Trump delays ban

TikTok resumes service in the US after President Trump delays enforcement of the law, giving the app’s owners three more months to find a buyer.

Influencers create a video featuring Spongecake the cat in New York's Times Square to share on their social media platforms on January 19, 2025. Photo by Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

By Alexandra Tazkya and Clarisa Sendy

TikTok began restoring service in the US on Sunday, following a tumultuous series of events that saw the video app briefly go dark, only to be revived after President-elect Donald Trump intervened. The move comes after the US Supreme Court upheld a bipartisan law requiring ByteDance Ltd., TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app due to national security concerns. However, Trump’s intervention, in which he promised to give the company three more months to secure a buyer, has temporarily delayed the law’s enforcement.

In a statement on X, TikTok expressed gratitude for Trump’s decision, thanking him for providing “the necessary clarity and assurance” to service providers, ensuring they would face no penalties for continuing to offer TikTok to over 170 million Americans. The app also highlighted its importance to small businesses, noting that over 7 million small enterprises rely on TikTok to grow and reach audiences.

The legal battle over TikTok has intensified following the law signed in April, which mandated ByteDance’s sale of TikTok and required US tech giants like Apple Inc., Google, and Oracle Corp. to cease hosting or distributing the app by January 19. The law was introduced as a response to national security fears, with lawmakers expressing concerns about the potential influence of the Chinese government over the platform.

Initially, Trump had supported the law, backing its goals of addressing national security concerns. However, in a surprising reversal, he changed his stance after suggesting that TikTok played a crucial role in helping him connect with young voters and ultimately secure his election victory.

On Sunday, Trump posted on social media that he would issue an executive order on Monday to extend the timeline before the law’s prohibitions take effect. The extension would allow time for a potential deal that could resolve the issue while maintaining national security. Trump’s team has been working on a solution that would create a joint venture, where new US-based owners would acquire 50% of TikTok, enabling the app to continue operating under American control.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, TikTok warned that it would “go dark” in the US on Sunday if the Biden administration did not intervene. However, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed the threat as a “stunt,” and TikTok temporarily stopped working late Saturday. Service was quickly restored after Trump’s announcement that he would extend the deadline for enforcement.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony, which underscores the ongoing relationship between the app and the incoming president. As Trump works with Chinese officials to broker a solution, his team has been exploring ways to comply with the law’s requirement to prohibit the hosting of apps controlled by foreign adversaries, like TikTok.

While Trump and his team seek a way to navigate the legal complexities surrounding TikTok, there has been significant opposition from key Republicans in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton have voiced strong opposition to the idea of allowing a joint venture with 50% US ownership. They argue that the law requires a complete sale of the company and a full divestiture from the Chinese Communist Party.

“There needs to be a sale, a full divestiture, from the Chinese Communist Party,” Johnson stated during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, while Cotton criticized the delay, stating there was “no legal basis” for extending the effective date of the law.

This divide in Congress highlights the complexity of the situation, as lawmakers remain at odds over how to best handle TikTok’s ownership and its potential risks to national security.

TikTok has used its massive popularity and influence to try and shift the narrative surrounding its future in the US. Earlier in the year, the company encouraged TikTok users to contact Congress and protest the bill. This strategy backfired, however, fueling concerns among lawmakers about the app’s ability to sway US citizens.

In addition to lobbying Congress, TikTok influencers have been vocal in their support for the app. As the legal situation developed, creators organized online to rally behind Trump’s promises to save TikTok, emphasizing the importance of the app to young voters.

Tiffany Cianci, a TikTok influencer, told Bloomberg before the Supreme Court’s hearing that the decision to delay enforcement was vital for the app’s future. “This is a promise Trump made, and it is a promise he used to get a large number of young people to vote for him,” she said. “We are calling on him to deliver immediately.”

While TikTok has resumed service in the US for now, the legal battles and political negotiations are far from over. The next few months will be critical in determining the app’s future in the country, as Trump and his administration work to broker a deal with ByteDance that could allow TikTok to remain operational in the US under new ownership.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions between Trump’s team, Chinese officials, and US lawmakers. The debate over TikTok’s ownership and its potential national security risks continues to divide opinions, and the outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the app’s role in American society.

For TikTok’s millions of users and creators, the uncertainty surrounding the app’s future has created a sense of anticipation. As discussions continue, many are left wondering whether TikTok can secure a deal that satisfies both US lawmakers and Chinese officials, or if the app’s days in the US will be numbered.

In the meantime, TikTok remains a central figure in the ongoing debate about the intersection of national security, technology, and social media, and its future in the US hangs in the balance.

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