TikTok is back online in the United States following an executive promise by President-elect Donald Trump.
Following a brief halt, TikTok has resumed, owing to an intervention by President-elect Donald Trump, who has extended the app's operational period via an upcoming executive order, Fox Business reported.
The service outage affecting users since Saturday was lifted after President-elect Trump announced his plan to intervene via his TRUTH Social platform. "I am asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark," stated Trump, signaling broad support for the social networking site before his Monday executive order commitment.
In a direct response to the ban enforced under a law signed by President Joe Biden, which cited national security concerns due to the app’s connection to its Chinese parent company ByteDance, President-elect Trump has stated a comprehensive plan to shift ownership and extend the app’s legality in the U.S.
According to President-elect Trump, the deal could include a significant share for the U.S. in TikTok through a joint venture.
Trump’s forthcoming order will ensure that the prohibitions do not kick in immediately and will absolve partnering companies from any liabilities for their role in keeping the app operational until now. This strategic delay seeks to pave the way for a more permanent solution.
Upon recovery, TikTok acknowledged the role of President-elect Trump in its service restoration, saying, "Welcome back! Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!"
Delving into details, President-elect Trump outlined his vision: by structuring a joint venture yielding U.S. a hefty 50% stake, the app could be valued in the hundreds of billions, if not trillions.
President Trump expressed his intent in a message, emphasizing the enhancement to national security this deal would entail:
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 order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.
The interruption, although brief, prompted significant distress among TikTok’s vast user base and the businesses that rely on the platform. Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, thanked Trump for his proactive approach and echoed TikTok's stance on resisting arbitrary censorship.
In articulating the future, a policy update from TikTok stated, "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. It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."
This unfolding scenario remains closely watched by market analysts and digital rights advocates, reflecting both the complex geopolitical landscape and the innovative negotiation capabilities of President-elect Donald Trump.
As national security remains a priority, the proposal for U.S. acquisition marks a pivotal step in defining how global tech businesses might operate within American borders moving forward.
