TikTok is restored in the USA, with an extension announced by President Trump, allowing the app to find a buyer within the country.
After creating a temporary ban on Sunday, January 19, 2025, TikTok has announced the restoration of its services - all thanks to an executive order announced by President Trump for Monday, the first day of his second term. As soon as the ban was announced, users stormed to TikTok alternatives like Instagram to participate in heated debates between supporters and opposers of the ban.
For some, the ban ended up creating panic among TikTokers due to their huge presence on the platform. In a major relief for such users, TikTok’s new statement kickstarted the restoration of the service in phases across the country just after the ban.
TikTok’s official post on X said:
TikTok Finds an Unlikely Ally in Trump
Trump, who opposed the functioning of TikTok during his first presidential term, became an ally of the app in his second term, allowing it an extension. According to his statement on the Truth Social app, Trump planned this extension to let the app find a new buyer in the country.
He further emphasized that American firms or the country should have at least a 50 percent stake in the ownership of the currently Chinese-owned social media app.
President Donald Trump has announced the signing of an executive order providing TikTok an extension to figure out a middle ground. Starting Monday, Trump’s second term is kickstarting.
His statement was
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.
Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.
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 say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars - maybe trillions.
Therefore, 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 purchase we so choose.
— Donald J. Trump (on TruthSocial)
What Happened on Sunday?
TikTok’s ban that took effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, stemmed from concerns over national security and data privacy due to the app's connection to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The ban attracted quite a bit of attention on social media platforms, with users sharing mixed reactions. Alex Grant, one of the most popular creators in the country, posted on X:
“I think I just witnessed TikTok going offline in real-time, and I am emotionally unwell.”
Others, however, welcomed the ban as a necessary step toward safeguarding data privacy.
