“Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump declared at a rally on Sunday, stating that the U.S. would seek a joint venture to maintain the short-video platform, which serves 170 million American users.
Just hours before the rally, TikTok sent a message to its users, confirming: “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.”
Earlier on Sunday, TikTok users reported partial access to the Chinese-owned service, with the app slowly coming back online. However, it remained unavailable for download on U.S. app stores.
TikTok acknowledged the restoration process in a statement, thanking Trump for “providing clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not face penalties for supporting TikTok’s availability to millions of Americans and businesses.”
The move comes amid heightened U.S.-China tensions. While Trump has signaled plans to impose tariffs on China, he has also suggested maintaining direct communication with Beijing’s leadership.
China’s foreign ministry responded to the development, emphasizing that companies should operate independently and calling for an “open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment.” Spokesperson Mao Ning stated, “TikTok has been in the U.S. for years and is deeply loved by American users. We hope the U.S. listens to reason.”
TikTok went dark for U.S. users late Saturday as a law banning the platform over national security concerns took effect. U.S. officials have long raised concerns about TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, alleging potential misuse of American user data.
Trump said he plans to issue an executive order extending the timeline before the ban is fully enforced. “We need time to strike a deal that protects national security,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that he favors a joint venture in which the U.S. holds a 50% stake.
Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts pushed back on Trump’s intervention, stating, “Now that the law has taken effect, there is no legal basis for any ‘extension.’ ByteDance must fully sever ties with Communist China before TikTok can resume operations in the U.S.”
During Trump’s first term, he sought to ban TikTok over similar security concerns. In 2020, he signed an executive order giving ByteDance 90 days to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations, later approving a proposed partnership involving Oracle and Walmart. His latest move, however, signals a shift, with Trump now crediting TikTok for helping him connect with young voters during the 2024 presidential race.
Other ByteDance-owned apps, such as CapCut and Lemon8, also went offline over the weekend and remained unavailable in U.S. app stores as of Sunday.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future triggered a surge in VPN searches as users sought workarounds. E-commerce sellers expressed concerns over pending transactions on TikTok Shop, while marketing firms rushed to adapt strategies amid the app’s temporary shutdown.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration and a follow-up rally on Sunday, according to sources. Reports also suggest that several investors, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and billionaire Elon Musk, have shown interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, though the company has denied sale negotiations.
Privately held ByteDance is about 60% owned by institutional investors, including BlackRock and General Atlantic, while its founders and employees control the remaining stakes. The company employs over 7,000 people in the U.S.