TikTok Returns in the U.S. After Trump Promises To Delay Ban

TikTok became available again to users in the United States on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump promised to sign an executive order that would delay a ban on the platform. TikTok’s app became unavailable to American users late Saturday in preparation for a law that takes effect Jan. 19, the day before Trump’s presidential inauguration at noon ET.

“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” the social media platform wrote Sunday X. “We thank President Trump for providing our service providers with the necessary clarity and assurance that they will not face any penalties for providing TikTok to more than 170 million Americans and allowing more than 7 million small businesses to thrive.”

TikTok praised Trump in a warning posted Saturday night that users saw when they tried to open the app. And the social media app said in a statement on Sunday that the restoration of its service was a positive development for free speech.

“This is a strong position in favor of the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the US,” the ByteDance-owned company wrote.

President-elect Trump, a billionaire authoritarian who has vowed to target his political enemies, announced Sunday morning that he would issue an executive order that would ensure TikTok can operate in the U.S. while a long-term deal is reached to exit.

“I tell companies that TikTok should not stay in the dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the time before the law’s ban goes into effect, so we can reach an agreement to protect our national security. The order will ensure that there will be no liability for any company that helped TikTok go dark before my order,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Sunday morning. The truth is social.

Oddly, Trump indicated that his primary concern about having TikTok available on Monday was that he wanted people to see him become president again.

“Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump continued.

But the strangest element of Trump’s announcement involved an apparent plan for how to structure a deal that would allow the app to continue operating in the U.S. The president-elect hinted that the federal government might be taking some kind of ownership stake in the social media company, though that may not work. His details were not provided.

“I want the US to be in a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to speak. Without US approval, there is no Tik Tok [sic]. With our approval, it’s worth hundreds of billions of dollars — maybe trillions,” Trump wrote.

The billionaire clearly hinted at how lucrative the deal could be as a sign that he should both appreciate it and perhaps see some benefits for himself.

“Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners with a 50% ownership in a joint venture between the United States and whoever we buy.”

Trump’s relationship with everyone has long been known to be transactional, but it’s still not entirely clear whether the incoming president will personally benefit from the TikTok deal, as he has in many other areas of his life.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wasn’t necessarily happy with the way things were going with TikTok, releasing a statement praising companies like Apple and Google for removing the app from their stores, saying there was no legal way to extend the deadline.

“We commend Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft for following the law and halting their activities with ByteDance and TikTok, and we encourage other companies to do the same. After all, the law risks devastating bankruptcy for any company that violates it. Now that the law is in effect, there is no legal basis for any ‘extension’ of its effective date,” Cotton said in a statement. Published online.

But Tullo’s displeasure may not be so great now that Trump is back in office, because the laws are only actually enforced. And the executive branch, which houses the US Department of Justice, will be in charge of enforcing the TikTok “ban or takedown” law.

“For TikTok to return online in the future, ByteDance must agree to a sale that sever all ties between TikTok and Communist China that satisfies the law’s qualified-diversification requirements,” Cotton continued. “Only Americans will be safe from the serious threat posed to their privacy and security by a communist-controlled TikTok.”