TikTok back online after Trump promises executive order to ‘save’ it

NEW YORK (APP): TikTok said Sunday it was restoring service to users in the United States after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban that President-elect Donald Trump said he will issue an executive order Monday to keep it up and running.

“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok wrote in a post on X.

” 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.”

Trump, who issued executive orders banning TikTok during his first presidential term, announced his decision Sunday on Truth Social.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!,” Trump wrote. “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.”

TikTok went dark in the U.S. late Saturday night after the Supreme Court upheld the ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform.

On Saturday, Trump told NBC that he will most likely delay a ban on TikTok for 90 days.

Late Saturday night when TikTok users in the U.S. opened the app, a message appeared that read, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”

Sunday afternoon, that message no longer appeared and users across the country reported having access to TikTok again.

Congress passed a law last year that requires TikTok’s owner ByteDance to either sell the app to a new U.S.-approved buyer or face a ban in the country. The Supreme Court upheld the ban in a ruling on Friday.

The Biden administration said they would not enforce the ban Sunday, but TikTok said it was unclear what would happen if it did not disable its platform in the U.S.

Lawmakers expressed concern about the company’s links to the Chinese government but TikTok has denied it shares any information with Beijing.