TikTok Service Restored in the U.S. Following Trump's Executive Order

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TikTok has begun restoring its service in the United States after a brief period of being unavailable due to a new law that effectively banned the app. The restoration of service comes following an executive order promised by President-elect Donald Trump, who plans to sign it on his first day in office. This move is intended to provide a 90-day extension for the app, giving TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance, more time to find an approved buyer before a permanent U.S. ban takes effect.

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Trump's executive order aims to delay the enforcement of the ban, which was set to begin on January 18, 2025. The law, which passed with wide bipartisan support in April, required ByteDance to cut ties with the platform’s U.S. operations due to national security concerns posed by the app’s Chinese roots. However, the statute gave the sitting president authority to grant a 90-day extension if a viable sale is underway.

TikTok users who tried to access the app on Saturday night and Sunday morning received a pop-up message informing them that the service was unavailable due to the new law. Despite this, TikTok has now resumed service for many users, although the app remains unavailable for download in Apple and Google’s app stores.

Trump's involvement has been crucial in this process, as his executive order provided the necessary clarity and assurance to TikTok's service providers, ensuring they would face no penalties for keeping the app operational. TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his commitment to work with the company to keep the app available in the U.S. and taking a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.