TikTok re-emerged late Sunday after President Donald Trump announced plans to delay the anticipated ban of the widely used app.
Congress had previously approved a law—later signed by former President Joe Biden—that required ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest from the platform or face its U.S. ban. Lawmakers cited concerns about national security, emphasizing that Chinese companies are obligated to share data with the Chinese government.
The ban was set to take effect Sunday. However, as the Biden administration concluded its tenure, it declined to enforce the measure.
On Sunday, Trump addressed the issue on Truth Social, stating, “SAVE TIKTOK!”
Later, he elaborated on his plan, also through Truth Social:
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”
Trump further highlighted the importance of ensuring uninterrupted access to events like his Inauguration:
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.”
Addressing the future of TikTok, Trump proposed a potential U.S. ownership role:
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars—maybe trillions.”
He suggested the possibility of forming a joint venture:
“My initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchaser we so choose.”
This followed reports from NBC indicating Trump’s intention to implement a 90-day delay while considering further options. The law permitted such a grace period to finalize the details surrounding the ban.
Trump’s announcements seemingly had an immediate effect, with TikTok resuming operations in the U.S. late Sunday after initially going dark earlier that day. The platform acknowledged Trump’s efforts in posts and messages directed at its users.
TikTok’s acknowledgment was reflected in user-generated messages thanking Trump, including one from journalist Ian Miles Cheong, who tweeted:
“TikTok has ended.”
TikTok has ended. pic.twitter.com/EryEASxxME
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) January 19, 2025
Similarly, TikTok users shared posts crediting the president for intervening, as Philip Lewis tweeted:
“TikTok users in the US are now seeing this message, in which the social media platform gives the man who started the effort to ban the app in the first place credit for ‘saving it.’”
TikTok users in the US are now seeing this message, in which the social media platform gives the man who started the effort to ban the app in the first place credit for 'saving it' pic.twitter.com/96KK3waBGc
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 19, 2025
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the law mandating TikTok’s divestiture, ruling it did not violate the First Amendment. As stated in the court’s opinion:
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”
