TikTok has restored services to its users in the United States as of Sunday afternoon. The move came after President-elect Donald Trump assured that he would stop the federal ban on the app once he takes office on January 20.
The short video service app had to be shut down briefly on Sunday due to “national security concerns”. The order also calls for TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sever ties with the app’s US operations. However, it also allowed a sitting President to grant a 90-day extension in the event of a viable sale.
Donald Trump, who was sworn in as US President on January 20, said he wanted to give the company more time to “make a deal” to comply with the federal order. The Republican said he “would like the United States to have a 50 percent ownership position in the joint venture,” claiming the app’s value could rise to “hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.” “By doing this we save TikTok and keep it in good hands,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
changed stance
Trump had previously supported banning TikTok during his tenure. His orders banning transactions with ByteDance and WeChat were later blocked by the courts. However, Trump is believed to have changed his stance after the short video-sharing app boosted his chances among young voters during his presidential campaign for the White House.
Following Trump’s comments, TikTok released a statement saying it was “in the process of restoring service.” “We thank President Trump for providing needed clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not face any penalties for providing TikTok to more than 170 million Americans,” the company said.
The message sent to users of the app said, “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US!” Despite the announcement, the app was not available to users on Google Play and Apple App Store. Trump’s promise also lacked clarity on implementation as the US Supreme Court unanimously upheld the ban on Friday, and it came into force a day before Trump returned to power.
