Is TikTok Back? Chinese app says it is restoring service in the US after Trump's comments
In a statement, the Chinese company said that TikTok was coming back to the US, after President-elect Donald Trump provided assurance in the future.
TikTok will be back. The company has announced that it is working to restore its service in the United States after the platform was blocked on the evening of Saturday, January 18, 2025. The popular short-video app was removed from the Apple and Google app stores, creating uncertainty among its more than 170 million users in the country.
In a statement, posted on X, the company said TikTok was coming back online after President-elect Donald Trump provided assurance necessary to the company's service providers. The president-elect stated via social media that he plans to issue an executive order extending the deadline before the TikTok ban takes full effect.
TikTok said it would restore its service in the US
Just hours before the move from TikTok, Trump posted to Truth Social calling for the app to remain available. That is why, ByteDance, company who controls TikTok, declared in a statement the social media will be restored in the US.
"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.", TikTok said in a post on X.
Statement post by TikTok on X, former Twitter. Photo: TikTokPolicy/X
Donald Trump extends the deadline for TikTok Ban
Hours before TikTok’s announcement, Donald Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to express his support for the app and confirm his intention to prevent its immediate ban. In his message, the president-elect stated that on Monday, he will sign an executive order extending the deadline before the ban takes effect.
"On Monday, I will issue an executive order to extend the period before the bans come into force. This allows us to reach an agreement that safeguards our national security," Trump declared.
The US Supreme Court didn't support to stop the TikTok banning. Photo: Tech USA.
The law banning TikTok, passed under Joe Biden's administration in April 2024, requires the platform to be sold to a non-Chinese company to continue operating in the United States. However, Trump emphasized that his administration will work to find an alternative solution that does not involve the forced sale of its parent company, ByteDance.
