On January 20, 2025, TikTok restored service to its users in the United States just hours after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban. This ban was initiated following legislation that required TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations. President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to pause this ban through an executive order on his first day in office, aiming to give ByteDance more time to find an approved buyer before the ban would take full effect.

As millions of U.S. TikTok users awoke to discover they could no longer access the app, Trump took to his Truth Social account to announce his intentions. By Sunday afternoon, users logging back into TikTok were greeted with a message thanking them and the president-elect for their support, stating, “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
The platform had initially shut down late on January 19 due to a federal law that mandated ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations by January 20. This law, which passed with significant bipartisan support in April 2024, allows for steep fines against companies that fail to comply. Following the ban's announcement, tech giants Google and Apple removed TikTok from their digital stores, further complicating the app's availability.

Despite the shutdown, TikTok's U.S. operations indicated that Trump's outlined steps provided “the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties.” However, the TikTok app remained unavailable for download in Apple and Google’s app stores, leaving many users frustrated.

The legal backdrop to the ban stems from national security concerns regarding TikTok's ties to China. The law that took effect on January 20 required ByteDance to sever its connections with TikTok’s U.S. operations, although it authorized the sitting president to grant a 90-day extension if a viable sale was underway. While some investors expressed interest, ByteDance maintained that it would not sell the platform. Trump’s proposed executive order aimed to extend the timeline for compliance and confirm that companies assisting TikTok would not face legal repercussions.

However, the legality of Trump's promised actions was uncertain. The U.S. Supreme Court had unanimously upheld the ban just days prior, and the statute came into force the day before Trump’s return to the White House. Representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin and the bill's author, emphasized that “there is no extension” for TikTok, clarifying that the extension was only applicable within a specific timeframe that had now passed.

Legal experts expressed skepticism regarding Trump's authority to suspend the ban. Kirk McGill, a constitutional and business law attorney, suggested that while Trump might lack the legal power to halt the ban, the issue was unlikely to be resolved in court before TikTok could find a buyer. Furthermore, it was deemed improbable that Apple or Google would face legal consequences for following through with the ban, as the responsibility for any prosecutions would rest with the Trump administration.

The temporary unavailability of TikTok followed the Supreme Court's ruling that deemed the national security risks posed by the app outweighed concerns about limiting speech for its millions of U.S. users. Users attempting to access TikTok on the evening of January 19 were met with a pop-up message stating, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” citing the new law banning the app.

As the app returned online, content creator Tiffany Watson expressed cautious optimism about its future. At the same time, she noted that her commitment to the platform had diminished during the months of uncertainty surrounding the ban. “Overall, I hope that creators will succeed and find community in spite of the unpredictability of TikTok,” she said.

The timing of the ban coincided with Trump’s inauguration, reflecting a complex interplay of political considerations surrounding a social media platform that initially gained popularity for its lighthearted content. During his first presidential term, Trump had previously issued executive orders aimed at banning dealings with ByteDance, but those efforts were blocked by the courts.
Trump has credited TikTok with helping him garner support from younger voters in the last presidential election, and TikTok's CEO, Shou Chew, was expected to attend Trump’s inauguration. Meanwhile, Trump’s choice for national security adviser, Michael Waltz, indicated that the president-elect discussed TikTok during a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting a willingness to collaborate on the matter.

Despite the ban, ByteDance has publicly insisted it would not sell TikTok, and as of now, no likely buyers have emerged. On January 19, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance to create a new entity that would merge its operations with TikTok’s U.S. business. However, Perplexity is not seeking to acquire the ByteDance algorithm that drives TikTok's user experience, which has raised concerns among lawmakers regarding potential manipulation by China.

To date, there has been no public evidence that TikTok has provided user data to Chinese authorities or altered its algorithm to benefit Chinese interests. Nevertheless, the uncertainty surrounding the app's future remains.

As for Trump, his history of fluctuating opinions on TikTok leaves questions about his long-term stance. Analysts like Jasmine Enberg from eMarketer suggest that his previous support for the platform does not guarantee future endorsement. “He’s flip-flopped on his stance toward TikTok before, and there’s no guarantee he won’t do so again,” she noted.
In conclusion, the recent developments surrounding TikTok highlight a complex intersection of technology, politics, and national security. As the platform navigates the challenges posed by federal regulations and political maneuvering, its future in the U.S. remains uncertain. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether TikTok can secure a path forward that satisfies both regulatory demands and the expectations of its vast user base.