The Return of TikTok in America: Analyzing Trump’s Role in the Comeback
TikTok has resumed operations in the United States after a brief shutdown, following President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention. The app, which has over 170 million American users, became inaccessible late Saturday due to a law banning it on national security grounds. Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying the ban, allowing TikTok to restore service by midday Sunday.
In a statement, TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump for providing clarity and assurance to service providers, ensuring they would face no penalties for supporting the app. The company committed to working with the incoming administration on a long-term solution to maintain its U.S. presence.
Despite the app’s restoration, its future remains uncertain. The law requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell its U.S. operations to an American buyer due to national security concerns. Trump proposed a 50-50 joint venture between ByteDance and a new American owner, but ByteDance has so far resisted selling. The situation continues to evolve as discussions between TikTok, ByteDance, and the U.S. government proceed.