TikTok Makes a Swift Comeback in the U.S. Thanks to President-Elect Trump’s Efforts

Just 12 hours after going dark for many American users, TikTok is back online, thanks in large part to President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention. The app’s return follows a dramatic shutdown late Saturday, where U.S. users found themselves unable to access it, receiving a message saying the app was offline and warning them to “stay tuned.”

In an upbeat notification on Sunday, they announced, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” The abrupt reversal came after the app became unavailable to U.S. users on Saturday night. The notification explained that a new law banning TikTok had been enacted, rendering the app inaccessible until further notice. This action also impacted other ByteDance-owned apps, including Lemon8 and CapCut, which were removed from both the Apple and Google Play stores.

As tensions escalated, Trump swiftly pledged to delay the enforcement of the law, promising to issue an executive order upon his inauguration to extend the deadline. This allowed TikTok to restore service to its U.S. users within hours. The swift return will be a relief to the 170 million Americans who use the platform regularly for entertainment, news, and even income generation, following weeks of uncertainty over the app’s future in the U.S.

A Political Win for Trump?

The social media restoration signals a potential political victory for Trump, who has positioned himself as a key player in saving the app. In a statement Sunday, the company expressed gratitude for Trump’s intervention, noting that his efforts had provided the necessary clarity for its service providers to resume operations in the U.S. “We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the company said. “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”

TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, is expected to attend Trump’s “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” on Sunday evening and will be seated prominently at the president-elect’s inauguration the following day.

Navigating TikTok’s Future in the U.S.

Though TikTok has quickly returned to the U.S., its long-term future remains uncertain. Trump outlined plans to issue an executive order after his inauguration to extend the timeline before the law’s prohibitions take effect. He also announced his intention to negotiate a deal that would protect U.S. national security while keeping the app available to American users.

Trump hinted that a deal could involve a 50-50 joint venture between it’s parent company, China-based ByteDance, and an American owner. He had previously suggested a 90-day extension to allow time for such a deal, which would likely involve selling TikTok to a U.S. entity. Trump’s involvement in these negotiations is seen as an opportunity to court younger voters, many of whom are avid TikTok users.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.” The law banning TikTok had garnered bipartisan support in Congress, citing national security concerns, but has been unpopular among younger generations, with a 2023 Pew Research survey showing about half of Americans supporting the ban.

It has also been in contact with key technology partners, including Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s U.S. content, and Apple and Google, which distribute the app via their app stores. Under the current law, these companies could face significant penalties if the ban is enforced.

In a pop-up message late Saturday, TikTok thanked Trump for his efforts to help reinstate the app, noting, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.” TikTok’s CEO also praised Trump for his understanding of the platform in a video message responding to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law banning the app.

“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform, one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process,” Chew said.

Trump himself has openly acknowledged the importance of TikTok to his political success, crediting the app with helping him connect with younger voters. At a press conference in December, he claimed to have won the youth vote by a significant margin, even suggesting that TikTok played a role in his electoral victory.

As the situation continues to unfold, Trump’s executive order may be the key to securing it’s’s future in the U.S., allowing time for ByteDance to negotiate a sale to a U.S. owner and ensuring that the app remains available to millions of American users.