TikTok Restored in the U.S. After Brief Shutdown, President-Elect Trump’s Pledges to Restore

TikTok is back online for millions of American users just 12 hours after a sudden shutdown on Saturday night, following intervention from President-elect Donald Trump. The app, along with other platforms owned by its parent company ByteDance, had been rendered inaccessible in the U.S. due to a newly enacted law banning TikTok over national security concerns.

In a message to users, TikTok thanked President Trump for his efforts in securing its return, stating, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” The shutdown came as TikTok was removed from the Apple and Google Play stores, and users were unable to access the app.

Trump announced on Sunday that he would issue an executive order following his inauguration to delay enforcement of the ban, citing the need for more time to negotiate a solution to protect national security. As a result, TikTok was quickly restored, signaling a potential political victory for Trump, who is working to navigate the complex issue of keeping the app operational in the U.S.

The app, which has over 170 million American users, has become an essential platform for entertainment, news, and even small business marketing. TikTok expressed gratitude for Trump’s involvement, noting that his support helped reassure service providers, including tech giants like Oracle, Apple, and Google, to continue supporting the app despite the legal risks.

However, the long-term future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, as the law mandating a sale of the app to an American entity or its eventual ban remains in effect. Trump’s efforts to delay the ban and potentially negotiate a joint venture deal involving ByteDance and a U.S. partner are seen as short-term solutions, with no clear permanent fix yet in place. The path forward for TikTok in the U.S. is likely to involve complex negotiations and further legal challenges.