TikTok resumed operations in the United States on Sunday after President-elect Donald J. Trump revealed plans to issue an executive order delaying the enforcement of a federal ban on the social media platform.
This sudden reversal came shortly after major app stores had removed TikTok, effectively restricting access for U.S. users.
In a post on X, TikTok announced, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.”
Earlier that morning, Trump stated on Truth Social that he would issue an executive order on Monday to delay the law’s prohibitions, citing the need to negotiate a deal to safeguard national security.
The ban stems from a 2024 law requiring app stores and cloud providers to cease distributing or hosting TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform. U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns that the Chinese government could exploit TikTok’s vast user base—estimated at 170 million Americans—for intelligence gathering or propaganda.
Under the law, non-compliance could lead to hefty financial penalties for tech companies.
Addressing this, Trump reassured that his order would “ensure there is no liability for companies that helped prevent TikTok from going offline before my order.”
However, Trump’s planned executive action introduces new legal and political complexities.
His move temporarily overrides a bipartisan law upheld by the Supreme Court last week, raising questions about presidential authority and the rule of law in the U.S.
TikTok expressed gratitude for Trump’s intervention, stating, “We thank President Trump for providing clarity and assurance to our service providers, enabling TikTok to continue serving over 170 million Americans and supporting over 7 million small businesses.”