TikTok back online as Trump Pledges Executive Order
Bradley Chagoya 
TikTok began restoring access to its platform for users in the United States on Sunday following a brief, voluntary shutdown. The company’s decision to reinstate service came after President-elect Donald Trump pledged to pause the ban on TikTok through an executive order on his first day in office.
“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,” TikTok said in a statement. “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.”
TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, temporarily disabled access to the app in the U.S. just hours before a critical deadline on Sunday. This move was prompted by a Supreme Court decision earlier in the week that upheld a law mandating ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. The unanimous ruling solidified the legality of the law, which was enacted last year amid concerns about TikTok’s ties to China and potential risks to U.S. national security.
The court’s ruling supported the government’s assertion that TikTok could be exploited to collect vast amounts of sensitive data on American users, reinforcing fears of misuse by foreign entities. Despite ByteDance’s efforts to challenge the law and argue against its implications on free speech, the justices unanimously concluded that the divest-or-ban mandate did not infringe on First Amendment rights.
President-elect Trump took to social media on Sunday to address the crisis, first posting “SAVE TIKTOK” and later announcing plans to issue an executive order on Monday. The order aims to extend the deadline for compliance with the law and eliminate liability for companies aiding in TikTok’s continued operations before its enforcement.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump wrote. “I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars — maybe trillions.”
TikTok’s statement indicated optimism about working with the incoming administration to find a “long-term solution” for its operations in the U.S. The restoration of service underscores the platform’s significance to millions of American users and businesses that rely on it for engagement and growth.
As TikTok resumes operations, questions remain about the specifics of the proposed joint venture and the steps needed to ensure compliance with U.S. security concerns while preserving its functionality and popularity. For now, the platform’s reinstatement marks a moment of relief for its vast user base and the small businesses that depend on it to thrive.
