In a dramatic reversal, TikTok announced Sunday the restoration of its services to American users, less than 24 hours after implementing a nationwide shutdown. The platform credited President-elect Trump's assurances for enabling its service providers to continue supporting the app's operation for its 170 million US users.
The restoration came after Trump's pivotal announcement on social media, promising an executive order on Monday to extend the implementation period of the ban. "We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers," TikTok stated, characterizing the development as "a strong stand for the First Amendment."
However, the platform's long-term future remains uncertain. While Trump has proposed a joint venture with 50% US ownership, this arrangement faces legal hurdles under the current law, which caps "foreign adversary" ownership at 20%. Congressional Republicans, including House Speaker Johnson, have emphasized that any solution must involve complete divestiture from Chinese ownership.
Despite its return to service, TikTok remains unavailable for download on major app stores, highlighting the ongoing complexity of the situation. The platform welcomed returning users with an optimistic message: "Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!"
This story continues to develop as we await Monday's executive order and further details on potential long-term solutions for TikTok's presence in the United States.