TikTok Returns After Trump’s Promise to Restore It
After a short 12-hour shutdown, TikTok returned to the United States swiftly, crediting President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention for its revival. Users came across a message that said, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!
BREAKING: Trump Says, "As of Today, TikTok Is Back!" In Historic Victory Rally On The Eve of His Inauguration
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This puts in the wraps a dramatic U-turn, one which came after TikTok users received a late-night shutdown message on Saturday that said the app was down due to a newly enacted law banning TikTok from the U.S. Added to that, the app was also yanked from the Apple and Google Play stores, as well as other services owned by TikTok, such as Lemon8 and CapCut.
Trump, who campaigned to act once in office, pushed off the law’s implementation, which would ban TikTok in the United States. The platform was functioning again for U.S. users by Sunday morning through both its app and website.
For the app’s 170 million American users, this is a huge relief, as TikTok has become an essential part of their daily lives, offering entertainment, news, and even a source of income for many. This also marks a significant moment for Trump, who now appears to be securing a major political win by restoring the platform.
A statement from TikTok appreciated the clarity Trump gave to help the app get back online. It further added, “We are grateful President Trump for providing the needed clarity and reassurance to our service providers that they will not face any form of punishment providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and enabling over 7 million small businesses to flourish.” It further stated it was eager to engage with Trump over a long-term resolution that kept TikTok in the United States.
Although the return of TikTok is a victory for many, its long-term presence in the U.S. remains uncertain. Trump hinted that he would issue an executive order to delay the ban and give ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, time to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner.
It entails negotiating a joint venture between ByteDance and an American-based company, a step Trump believes may help protect national security while remaining accessible to users in America.
Support for Trump’s actions has been mounted by the CEO of the app, Shou Chew, who said that Trump understands TikTok’s value and how it had aided him in communicating with younger voters when he was running.
With Trump set to seal his executive order, all is left to do is see to how things shape up for the future of TikTok in America, with the speed at which the app has returned marking a new page in the ongoing debate over its place in the American digital landscape.
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