TikTok announced it will be restoring service to its U.S. users after temporarily blocking access the previous evening. The company credited President-elect Donald Trump for providing the necessary assurances to its service providers, which facilitated the decision.
In a post on X, TikTok stated, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.” They expressed gratitude to President Trump for his role in ensuring that over 170 million Americans and more than 7 million small businesses would not face penalties for using TikTok.
“This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” the company added.
Earlier, Trump had called for the app to remain available, indicating his intention to issue an executive order to delay the ban originally scheduled to take effect. He stated that he wanted to negotiate a deal to protect national security and confirmed there would be no liability for companies that helped keep TikTok operational prior to his order.
As service restoration began, TikTok users could regain access to content through web browsers, with messages welcoming them back. However, the app remained unavailable for download in Apple and Google’s app stores.
The law prohibiting TikTok allows the president to grant a 90-day extension before it is enforced if certain criteria are met. Under legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April, the app would be banned unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, divested from the company to a non-Chinese entity.
Both Biden and Trump appeared to shift their positions on TikTok; Trump, who previously supported a ban, now expressed support for the app, while the Biden administration has stated it would not enforce the ban immediately.
While TikTok resumed service, some Republican leaders expressed skepticism about Trump’s plans. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the law would be enforced, interpreting Trump’s comments as a push for a true divestiture.
Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts also supported the ban, asserting that once the law took effect, there would be no legal basis for an extension. They emphasized that ByteDance must sell TikTok to comply with regulatory requirements.
Despite Trump’s plans for an executive order and the possibility of a joint venture, legal complexities remain. The law imposes a 20% ownership cap for “foreign adversaries,” leaving uncertainty about whether ByteDance could maintain control without changes to the law.
While Congress could potentially amend the law, TikTok stated that it “will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
Credit: NBC