TikTok restores service in US, thanks Donald Trump

TikTok is up and running again in the US just hours after shutting down – and the app says it’s thanks to Donald Trump.

TikTok has restored service in the United States after briefly going dark, as a law banning the app on national security grounds came into effect.

TikTok credited President-elect Donald Trump, who retakes power on Tuesday AEDT, for making the reversal possible – though the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden had earlier said that it would not enforce any ban.

The video sharing app had shut down in the United States late Saturday as a deadline for its Chinese owners ByteDance to sell its US subsidiary to non-Chinese buyers loomed.

In a statement posted on X after Mr Trump promised to issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow time to “make a deal”, TikTok said it “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.”

Will incoming US President Donald Trump save TikTok. Picture: AFP

TikTok, which was back online in the United States by Sunday afternoon local time, did not address Trump’s call for part American ownership of the app.

Mr Trump had earlier called for the United States to take part-ownership in TikTok and vowed to issue an executive order delaying a ban on the wildly popular app to allow time to “make a deal.”

Mr Trump’s announcement came hours after TikTok went dark in the United States under a law banning it in the name of national security, as a deadline for its Chinese owners ByteDance to sell its US subsidiary to non-Chinese buyers lapsed.

The law however includes a clause allowing for a 90-day delay if the White House can show progress toward a viable deal, but so far ByteDance has flatly refused any sale.

“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

It comes as TikTok disconnected access to its users in the United States and reinstated service after Mr Trump posted to Truth Social.

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US,” said a message to users attempting to use the app. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the message added. “Please stay tuned!”

Two days before the law kicked in, the Supreme Court rejected TikTok’s bid to stop the crackdown passed by Congress last year over fears the Chinese-owned app represented a threat to America’s national security and the privacy of its 170 million users.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has the option of keeping the app alive in the US by selling it off. But while Chinese officials contemplated a deal with Elon Musk, Mr Trump’s billionaire ally, TikTok dismissed those reports as “pure fiction” as it pursued the legal appeal.

The Supreme Court acknowledged TikTok “offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community” for its users.

“But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” it said.

Asked if he would save the app, shortly after discussing the issue in a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mr Trump told CNN: “You’re going to see what I’m going to do.”

TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew, who has been courting the President-elect and is due to attend his inauguration, praised his “commitment to work with us to find a solution”.

“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform, one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives,” he said.

The law was drawn up so that app stores would be banned from allowing TikTok to be downloaded and updated, meaning the app would eventually stop working for its users.

Pro TikTok protesters congregated on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC in March 2023. Picture: AFP

WHAT HAS DONALD TRUMP SAID?

US President-elect Donald Trump told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker in a phone interview that he is looking at granting the app a 90-day extension after his January 20 swearing-in ceremony.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at,” he said.
“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate.

“We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.

“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” he said.

In fact, he announced he would do this on Sunday, local time, on his Truth Social account.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security,” the incoming US president posted on Truth Social.

“The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order. Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.

“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions. 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.”

Saving TikTok is a marked shift from Mr Trump’s first term in the White House, when he signed an order that was designed to ban TikTok but was ultimately unsuccessful.

WILL TIKTOK SHUT DOWN?

The law was drawn up so that app stores would be banned from allowing TikTok to be downloaded and updated, meaning the app would eventually stop working for its users.

But reports have recently emerged that TikTok was planning to directly switch the app off on January 19 if the Supreme Court challenge was unsuccessful.

“We go dark … The platform shuts down,” the app’s lawyer Noel Francisco told the court during a hearing last week.

In the days leading up to the proposed ban on the social media platform TikTok, US users have turned to another Chinese-owned app, Xiaohongshu. Picture: AFP

Such a move is not legally necessary, with the Biden administration indicating it would leave it to Mr Trump to enforce the legislation, which includes penalties for app stores which continue to host the app after the ban comes into effect.

“Given the sheer fact of timing, this administration recognises that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next administration, which takes office on Monday,” President Joe Biden’s spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.

TikTok’s decision to go dark would, however, increase the pressure on Mr Trump to act.

IF TIKTOK SHUTS DOWN IN THE US, WILL IT STILL WORK IN AUSTRALIA?

Yes. The law only applies to TikTok’s operations in the US, although it has been closely watched by foreign governments.

Australian users will not be affected if TikTok does shut down even temporarily, with the law only applying to its operations in the US.

IS THERE A WAY FOR TIKTOK TO SURVIVE IN THE US?

That is a complicated question but Mr Trump has promised to save the app, which became a crucial part of his election campaign to connect with younger voters last year.

The President-elect’s incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz said earlier this week: “We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark.”

TikTok star Jacob Smith urged fans to follow him on other platforms. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Saving TikTok would be a marked shift from Mr Trump’s first term in the White House, when he signed an order that was designed to ban TikTok but was ultimately unsuccessful.

It would also defy bipartisan backing for the law in Congress, especially from his Republican allies who were determined to act on what they considered a national security threat.

Prior to the court ruling, Mr Trump discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The app’s chief executive Shou Zi Chew is also due to attend the President-elect’s inauguration on Tuesday (local time), having lobbied Mr Trump and his team including Mr Musk since November’s presidential election.

HOW COULD TRUMP SAVE TIKTOK?

His team has been looking at activating a 90-day extension on the ban, which is allowed under the law if there is significant progress on a deal for ByteDance to sell off the app.

“He’s a deal maker. I don’t want to get ahead of our executive orders, but we’re going to create this space to put that deal in place,” Mr Waltz said.

“President Trump has been very clear: Number one, TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use and has been great for his campaign and getting his message out. But number two, he’s going to protect their data.”

Mr Trump’s administration could also choose not to enforce the law, although that could leave it open to legal challenges.

Originally published as TikTok restores service in US, thanks Donald Trump