TikTok remained inaccessible on Apple and Google app stores in the United States on Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order postponing the enforcement of a ban on the app by 75 days.
The executive order came as uncertainty loomed over the future of TikTok, which went offline in the U.S. on Saturday. This move followed the enactment of a law on Sunday that cited national security concerns to mandate that TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.
Although TikTok resumed service on Monday after receiving assurances from Trump that the company and its partners would not face penalties to keep the app operational, it has yet to return to app stores.
Analysts suggest that the continued absence of TikTok on Apple and Google’s app stores may stem from their need for additional legal clarity and protections before bypassing the ban. Both tech giants face potential penalties for hosting or distributing the app in violation of U.S. regulations.
Apple’s App Store displayed a message stating, “TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you’re in,” while Google Play noted, “Downloads for this app are paused due to current U.S. legal requirements.”
Meanwhile, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin revealed on CNBC that his bid to acquire TikTok had been paused due to China’s unwillingness to negotiate a deal. However, he expressed continued interest in the app, describing TikTok as a “terrific business” with significant potential for rebuilding its technology to ensure no future engagement with ByteDance.
Mnuchin stated, “The idea would be to transfer all technology so it no longer engages with ByteDance going forward,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring the app’s compliance with U.S. security concerns.
Bill Ford, CEO of TikTok investor General Atlantic, also spoke to CNBC, highlighting that alternative approaches to altering TikTok’s U.S. ownership could be pursued without necessarily requiring a full sale. Ford pointed out that ByteDance is already 60% owned by non-Chinese shareholders, including institutional investors such as BlackRock and General Atlantic.
ByteDance’s ownership structure reveals that approximately 60% of the company is held by institutional investors, while its founders and employees each hold a 20% stake.
