Late Sunday evening, TikTok surprised its 170 million American users by restoring access to its app and website, reversing an earlier shutdown that had seemingly marked the start of a nationwide ban.
The unexpected move came just hours before the ban was set to take effect at midnight on January 19, leaving users, small businesses, and tech analysts in suspense.
The timing aligned with President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement earlier in the day that he planned to issue an executive order on his first day in office—January 20—offering ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, additional time to negotiate a deal.
“My executive order on Monday will extend the timeframe before the ban’s enforcement and ensure no penalties for any entities that assisted in maintaining TikTok’s availability,” Trump stated. “Americans should be able to experience our historic Inauguration Day and engage in the conversations surrounding it.”
Trump also floated the idea of a U.S.-based joint venture to safeguard the platform while addressing national security concerns. “A 50% ownership stake for the United States in a new partnership could be the ideal solution,” he suggested, leaving the door open for potential collaborations with new or current stakeholders.
In a prompt response, TikTok confirmed the restoration of its service and expressed gratitude for the president-elect’s clarity. “Thanks to the assurances provided, TikTok is in the process of resuming access for our 170 million users and supporting the 7 million small businesses that rely on us,” the company said. “We look forward to collaborating with the incoming administration on a sustainable resolution.”
The platform’s brief shutdown was no minor issue. Over the years, TikTok has faced escalating scrutiny over its connections to the Chinese government.
The controversy began in 2020 during Trump’s first term and intensified when President Joe Biden, in 2024, signed into law a ban on apps owned by foreign adversaries. Under this legislation, TikTok was given until January 19 to either cease operations in the U.S. or sell its ownership to a compliant entity.
While Biden had chosen to defer the ban’s enforcement to his successor, TikTok preemptively halted its service to avoid hefty fines. A somber message in the app during the downtime read, “We are fortunate that President-elect Trump has signaled his commitment to finding a solution to restore TikTok’s presence in the U.S.”
The legal battles leading to the ban were tumultuous. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law, asserting that national security concerns outweighed TikTok’s First Amendment claims.
However, the issue revealed cracks within both political parties. Key figures like Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Cory Booker, and Sen. Ed Markey reversed their earlier positions, urging Congress to reconsider the ban.
Still, the effort to repeal the law stalled when Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts blocked a last-minute legislative push.
The president-elect has stated that resolving TikTok’s future will be a cornerstone of his administration’s tech policy. His Inauguration Day is set to feature prominent leaders from the tech industry, including TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, highlighting the high stakes and collaborative potential of the ongoing negotiations.
As we wait for a settlement, one thing is clear: TikTok’s(China) war in the U.S. is far from over. While its restored service offers a reprieve, the future of TikTok will depend on balancing innovation, security, and, of course, diplomacy.
