Tech analyst and founder of ‘The Media Copilot’ Pete Pachal joins ‘Mornings with Mary’ to discuss how President-elect Trump is asking the Supreme Court to end the ban on TikTok and his administration’s second-term focus on AI.
TikTok was blacked out for users across the US late Saturday as the app notified users of the ban, which took effect just days before President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
Users who tried to use the app on Saturday night received the following message: “We’re sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable. There’s a law in the US that bans TikTok. Unfortunately, this means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The app hailed Trump, saying, “We are happy that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to get TikTok back on track after he takes office. Stay tuned!”
A few hours earlier, the application informed users of this law to ban TikTok it would take effect on Sunday.
Management noted that the ban will “force” the company to make its services “temporarily unavailable.”
TikTok notified users on Saturday that it was no longer available due to the US ban, saying President-elect Trump was working on a solution. (TikTok / Fox News)
Screenshot of the TikTok app update, Saturday. (Fox News Digital / Fox News)
“We are working to restore our service in the US as soon as possible and appreciate your support,” the statement said. “Please stay with us.”
The social media platform said Sunday would “go dark” without a “definitive” announcement from the Biden administration.
“Statements issued today by both Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to service providers integral to keeping TikTok available to more than 170 million Americans,” TikTok said in a statement posted on X.
The TikTok app logo is displayed on an iPhone. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis/AP Newsroom)
The White House said this week Biden did not plan to implement ban, that it would depend on Trump, who takes office on Monday.
USA The Supreme Court confirmed on Friday bipartisan legislation passed last year banning TikTok unless its Chinese-owned company ByteDance sells it by Sunday, citing national security risks from its ties to China, Fox News Digital reported.
Trump said he had to “review” the ban before making a decision, and that he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day extension from the Jan. 19 deadline after he takes office.
Trump said he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day extension. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew thanked Trump in a video Friday for his “commitment to working with us to find solutions that keep TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong stance for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”
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During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would “never ban TikTok” after joining the platform, but he led calls for a ban during his first term.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
