On January 19, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump celebrated the return of TikTok in the U.S. after the platform was briefly shut down for 14 hours due to a nationwide ban that took effect at midnight. As TikTok restored access to millions of American users, Trump declared, “As of today, TikTok is back,” during a “victory rally” in Washington, D.C. The rally, part of his three-day inauguration event, marked a victory for Trump, who had vowed to reverse the ban on the popular app after taking office.
Trump's statement came as the app resumed operations just hours after a shutdown left American users unable to access the platform. "We have no choice, we have to save it," Trump told the crowd, hinting at his plans to broker a deal that would allow TikTok to remain operational in the U.S. He suggested a "joint venture" where the U.S. would own 50% of TikTok, which he claimed could "make a lot of money." This statement solidified his position as the potential savior of the platform, which has been embroiled in a legal and political battle over its ownership and potential national security threats due to its connection with China-based ByteDance.
Earlier that day, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who had planned to attend Trump's rally, confirmed the app's restoration, thanking the president-elect for his efforts in ensuring TikTok’s return. A popup message greeted U.S. users: "Welcome back! As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S." However, the app still remained unavailable on the Apple App Store as of late afternoon, causing some confusion about the full scope of its reinstatement.
The controversy over TikTok began months earlier, with the U.S. government citing national security concerns linked to the app’s data practices. A law banning TikTok unless ByteDance sold its U.S. operations was set to take effect on January 19, 2025, following years of pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company had been a point of contention, with analysts estimating the platform’s U.S. operations could fetch between $40 billion and $50 billion.
Despite the legal battle, Trump, who had long supported the app, signaled that he would issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow more time for a sale to be finalized. His adviser, Jason Miller, confirmed that the Trump team was “still finalizing” plans to extend the deadline for up to 90 days. This extension would provide ByteDance with an opportunity to negotiate a deal that could preserve TikTok’s presence in the U.S., possibly under new ownership arrangements.
Meanwhile, the app’s sudden disappearance from service earlier in the day had triggered public outcry and even criminal activity. Police reported that a 19-year-old in Wisconsin was arrested for allegedly setting fire to a building housing Rep. Glenn Grothman’s office, citing frustration over the TikTok ban as his motive. Though the fire did not result in injuries, it highlighted the app’s deep cultural impact and its significance to users.
As the day progressed, the political tension surrounding the app continued to mount. While some lawmakers, such as Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), opposed any delay to the TikTok ban, others, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), acknowledged the need for more time to negotiate an American purchase of TikTok.
At 10 a.m. EST, Trump officially announced that he would sign an executive order on January 20, delaying the TikTok ban and calling for a resolution that would allow the platform to stay operational under U.S. ownership. The president-elect also urged companies to avoid penalizing TikTok and promised that tech firms acting before Monday would face “no liability.”
For now, the TikTok drama continues, with Trump positioned as the key figure in resolving the standoff. His promises to secure the app's future in the U.S. have been met with mixed reactions, but for millions of users, the app’s return marks a brief moment of reprieve in what has become a high-stakes battle involving national security, politics, and global tech giants.
Stay tuned for further updates on the TikTok saga as the situation unfolds.