TikTok is in the process of restoring US services after Trump promised an executive order
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TikTok said on Sunday it was in the process of resuming operations in the US, after President-elect Trump promised to issue an executive order to extend TikTok’s operations to Inauguration Day.
Some US users reported that they were able to regain access to the app after the power outage on Saturday.
Trump wrote on TRUTH Social that he is “asking companies not to let TikTok stay in the dark!”
“On Monday, I will issue an executive order to extend the time period before the statutory bans go into effect, so we can make a deal to protect our national security,” the president-elect continued. “The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from stopping before my order.”
“The American people deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump said.
TIKTOK TRUMPS MORE AS THE APP GETS DARK FOR MILLIONS OF USERS ACROSS US
President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and their son Barron board a U.S. Air Force jet en route to Dulles, Virginia on January 18, 2025 in West Palm Beach. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Trump is expected to be sworn in around noon ET on Monday at the US Capitol, officially taking over as the 47th president.
His post on Sunday did not clarify how soon the extension would take effect or specify how long it would last.
Regarding the proposed national security agreement, Trump said he would like “the United States to have a 50% ownership position in the joint venture.”
“By doing this, we’re saving TikTok, keeping it in good hands and letting it do that [stay] up. Without US approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions,” Trump wrote. “So my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners with the US getting 50% ownership in a joint venture established between the US and either which purchases we choose.”
TikTok’s X account dedicated to posting the policy update released a statement later Sunday saying, “In consultation with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of re-establishing the service.”
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not face any penalties for providing TikTok to more than 170 million Americans and enabling more than 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the statement said. “It’s a strong stance for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that will keep TikTok in the United States.”
Apple and Google app stores the TikTok app was no longer available from 10:50 PM EST on Saturdays. President Biden signed bipartisan legislation last spring that requires TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform by Sunday or the platform will be banned in the United States.
A TikTok ban message appears on a mobile phone screen with the TikTok logo on a tablet screen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on January 19, 2025. (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The following pop-up message appeared for users who tried to access the TikTok app earlier on Sunday: “We’re sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable. A law has been passed in the US that bans TikTok. Unfortunately, this means you can’t use TikTok for now. ”
“We are lucky 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 message has been added.
Earlier Sunday, Trump posted a two-word message on TRUTH Social: “SAVE TIKTOK!”
The US Capitol is shown at sunrise the day before President-elect Donald Trump’s second term inauguration on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Instead of using the nine-month grace period to sell TikTok to an approved buyer, ByteDance, like TikTok, sued.
The law was confirmed on Friday by the US Supreme Courtwhich pointed to national security risks due to the app’s ties to China.
Trump has previously indicated that he needs to “review” the ban before choosing a course of action and that he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension from the January 19 deadline.
By law, the current president can extend the deadline by 90 days if the sale is in progress. ByteDance previously rejected the idea of selling TikTok.
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In a video released Friday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew praised Trump 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.”
FOX Business’ Alexandra Koch, Bradford Betz, Landon Mion and Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
