TikTok resumed its services in the United States on Sunday after a brief outage, coinciding with the enforcement of a law that prohibits the immensely popular app due to national security concerns.
The app attributed its ability to restore service to President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to assume office on Monday, despite the previous administration under President Joe Biden indicating that it would not implement any ban.
The video-sharing platform ceased operations in the U.S. late Saturday as the deadline approached for its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its American subsidiary to non-Chinese entities.
Earlier on Sunday, as countless frustrated users found themselves locked out of the app, Trump vowed to issue an executive order postponing the ban to facilitate time for negotiating a “deal.”
He also suggested on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. should acquire a part-ownership stake in TikTok. The president-elect expressed his desire for the U.S. to possess a 50% ownership share in a joint venture, contending that the app could appreciate significantly in value, possibly reaching “hundreds of billions of dollars — maybe trillions.”
“By taking this step, we preserve TikTok and ensure it is in capable hands,” noted Trump, who had previously supported a ban on the app and initiated actions toward one during his first term.
In response to Trump’s statements, TikTok shared on X that it “is in the process of restoring service.”
“We appreciate President Trump for providing the needed clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not face any repercussions for offering TikTok to more than 170 million Americans.”
By Sunday afternoon, TikTok was available again in the United States, although it did not address Trump’s proposal for partial American ownership of the platform.
The legislation permits a 90-day delay of the ban if the White House can demonstrate significant progress toward a feasible agreement, yet to date, ByteDance has outright rejected any sale. The Biden administration stated that it would leave the enforcement of the law to Trump.
From youthful dancers to grandmothers showcasing cooking recipes, TikTok has gained popularity for its ability to turn everyday users into international stars when their videos go viral.
However, the platform also grapples with misinformation, and its Chinese ownership has consistently raised national security concerns both in the U.S. and globally.
The blackout on Sunday followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to uphold the legislation prohibiting the app until any sale occurs.
Trump signed an executive order in 2020 to intensify pressure on ByteDance to sell and has since recognised the app’s role in connecting him with younger voters. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain what actions the incoming president can take to lift the ban unless ByteDance ultimately agrees to sell.
