TikTok announced Sunday that it is restoring its services in the United States after President-elect Donald Trump pledged to reinstate the app’s access once he assumes office on Monday.
The platform, which had gone offline late Saturday following a law mandating its shutdown over national security concerns, is gradually resuming operations.
“As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.,” the platform said in a message to users. An earlier statement thanked Trump for providing assurances to service providers, enabling the app to operate without penalties.
The law, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, required TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban. The Biden administration had declined to intervene, leaving TikTok’s future uncertain. Trump, however, announced plans to delay enforcement, stating, “I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture.”
TikTok’s return signals a stark reversal from Trump’s earlier stance in 2020 when he sought to ban the platform, citing concerns over data privacy and Chinese government influence. More recently, Trump has credited TikTok for helping him connect with younger voters during the 2024 election.
Despite Trump’s actions, criticism persists within his own Republican Party. Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts called for ByteDance to comply with the law by divesting fully from TikTok. Meanwhile, other ByteDance apps, such as CapCut and Lemon8, remain unavailable in the U.S.
The uncertainty has driven users to explore alternatives like RedNote and prompted a spike in VPN searches. Analysts estimate TikTok’s U.S. operations could be worth up to $50 billion, with potential buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, reportedly showing interest.
