TikTok Returns, But Its U.S. Destiny Hinges on Trump’s Next Move

TikTok has resumed operations in the United States, but its future may depend on incoming President Donald Trump’s actions. The app was made accessible again to American users on Sunday afternoon, following a brief 14-hour shutdown. TikTok attributed the restoration of service to Trump's intervention, after he promised to sign an executive order delaying the enforcement of a law that required TikTok to either sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban by Sunday.

I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the timeline before the law’s restrictions take effect, allowing us time to negotiate a deal to protect national security, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. He also clarified that he would not hold TikTok's technology partners—such as Apple, Google, and Oracle—liable for continuing to support the app until the executive order was signed.

This assurance from Trump allowed TikTok to restore access for U.S. users. The company expressed gratitude in a statement: We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers, ensuring they will not face penalties for continuing to offer TikTok. The company also pledged to work with Trump on a long-term solution to keep TikTok operating in the United States.

The app's return was celebrated by many of its 170 million American users. Influencer Shay Sullivan, with 1.1 million followers on TikTok, shared her relief with CNN: I was crying myself to sleep last night because it felt like I’d lost a community and a job. Now, I’m just overjoyed. It’s been a roller coaster.

However, ensuring the app’s long-term presence in the U.S. may not be simple. The law, which passed with bipartisan support and was signed by President Joe Biden last April, mandates that ByteDance sell TikTok to an American company or one of its allies due to national security concerns. So far, ByteDance has resisted this requirement. On Sunday, Trump suggested that an American buyer purchase 50% of TikTok, creating a joint venture with the current owners. It remains unclear whether this solution will meet the approval of lawmakers, including some from Trump’s own party, who are wary of foreign control over the popular platform.

TikTok's decision to shut down wasn’t strictly necessary. The law only mandates that TikTok’s technology partners—such as Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s content in the U.S., and Apple and Google, which distribute the app through their stores—stop supporting the app. If they failed to comply, they could face fines of up to $5,000 per user with access to the platform starting Sunday.

The Biden administration indicated last week that it would leave enforcement of the law to Trump once he assumed office.

Despite this assurance, a source close to TikTok revealed that multiple critical service partners expressed concerns about the potential enforcement of the ban starting Sunday. As a result, TikTok chose to temporarily shut down the app.

The shutdown appeared to be a strategic move to pressure Trump for a swift resolution, potentially offering an immediate political win with young voters, even though it was Trump who initially sought to ban the app during his previous term.

In a pop-up message displayed to users late Saturday night, TikTok appealed directly to Trump: We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!

TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, who is expected to be prominently featured at the inauguration on Monday, also expressed gratitude in a video posted Friday: We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform, one who has used TikTok to share his thoughts and connect with the world, generating more than 60 billion views in the process.

When the app was restored, TikTok thanked Trump, telling users, As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!

Trump has previously suggested that TikTok played a key role in bringing in young voters during his election victory.

Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he would most likely delay the TikTok ban for 90 days after taking office, confirming this plan in a post on Truth Social Sunday.

Through an executive order, Trump could attempt to extend the ban’s deadline, giving ByteDance more time to find a buyer. However, this effort could face legal challenges or opposition from Congress. The law allows the president to extend the deadline only if a sale is in progress, but ByteDance has so far resisted selling the platform. Both ByteDance and Chinese officials have signaled their reluctance to part with TikTok’s U.S. assets, especially its valuable algorithm.

In addition, creating a U.S.-only version of TikTok could require other countries to download a new app to access content from American users.

Several prominent Republican lawmakers have expressed their opposition to extending the law.

There is no legal basis for any ‘extension’ of its effective date now that the law has been enacted, said Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska in a joint statement. For TikTok to return online, ByteDance must agree to a sale that complies with the law’s qualified divestiture requirements, severing all ties between TikTok and Communist China. Only then will Americans be protected from the serious privacy and security risks posed by a communist-controlled TikTok.

Cotton also warned on Sunday that any company involved in hosting, distributing, servicing, or facilitating TikTok's restoration ahead of Trump’s expected executive order could face hundreds of billions of dollars in liability under the law. This could include not only Department of Justice actions but also shareholder lawsuits, state attorney general investigations, and potential violations of securities laws.

However, ByteDance may reconsider its stance on a sale, having briefly shut down the platform.

At least two potential buyers have formally expressed interest in TikTok. One group, led by billionaire Frank McCourt and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, and another from AI search engine PerplexityAI, have submitted bids. McCourt’s group has proposed purchasing TikTok’s U.S. assets without its algorithm, intending to rebuild the app. However, tech giants like Meta and YouTube have long struggled to replicate TikTok's algorithm with limited success. O’Leary confirmed to CNN that he met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month to discuss the app’s future, and McCourt told CNN that ByteDance’s bankers have acknowledged the group’s $20 billion bid.

Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal also reported that China is considering a sale of TikTok to Elon Musk.

Musk, a major Trump supporter and soon to take a quasi-government role, may have the financial means to acquire the app. However, it's unclear whether he would pursue such a deal, and he has not publicly commented on the speculation. TikTok dismissed the reports as pure fiction.

If ByteDance chooses to engage in negotiations, Trump could argue that significant progress has been made toward a sale, potentially meeting the legal threshold needed to delay the ban.

Until a sale is finalized, however, TikTok’s future remains uncertain.