TikTok said on Sunday that it’s “in the process” of bringing the app back online for users in the U.S. This comes just over 12 hours after the platform was temporarily shut down, expecting a ban.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” the company shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“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,” the statement continued.
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship,” TikTok added. “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
By 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, TikTok was up and running again for most users, but it was still missing from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
“Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support,” read a pop-up message to users in the U.S. “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to say that he was asking companies “not to let TikTok stay dark” and planned to issue an executive order once he takes office on Monday, which would give TikTok more time.
A law that forced TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell off its U.S. operations or face a ban officially went into effect on Sunday. In anticipation of this, TikTok shut down access in the U.S. late on Saturday night.
The Supreme Court had already rejected TikTok’s attempt to block the law on Friday, ruling that it didn’t violate the First Amendment. However, the Biden administration said it wouldn’t enforce the law and would leave the decision to the incoming Trump administration.
Earlier Friday, TikTok said it planned to “go dark” unless President Biden stepped in to help, arguing that the White House hadn’t given enough support to their service providers. The White House called the move a “stunt.”
Although TikTok is back online now, the company’s problems aren’t over yet. ByteDance still faces pressure to sell the app from the incoming administration, including Trump himself.
Trump said Sunday that he’d like the U.S. to have a “50 percent ownership position in a joint venture” with TikTok if the app is to stay available in America.
“Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions,” he wrote. “Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose.”
As Trump prepares to take office on Monday, several big names from the tech world will be at his side, including Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta).
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, who met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month, also plans to attend the inauguration. After the Supreme Court decision, Chew thanked Trump for his efforts to find a solution that would keep the app in the U.S.
