TikTok cut off access to its users in the United States late Saturday, just before a national ban was set to take effect. President-elect Donald Trump, unable to intervene before his inauguration, expressed his intention to reinstate the app once he takes office.
A message to users attempting to access the platform read, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
This move followed a legal battle that culminated in the US Supreme Court upholding a law banning the video-sharing platform for national security reasons. The law gives TikTok’s Chinese owners until Sunday to either sell the app to non-Chinese buyers or face a permanent ban.
TikTok has garnered immense popularity, from teen dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, and has helped ordinary users become global sensations. Trump has even credited TikTok with helping him connect with younger voters, contributing to his election win in November 2024.
Trump, after discussing the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping, indicated that he could push for a 90-day reprieve after his inauguration. “I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at,” he said on Saturday, adding that he might announce the decision on Monday.
The law permits a 90-day delay if progress is made toward a viable deal, but TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has refused to sell. The Biden administration has left the matter to Trump, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calling TikTok’s recent statements a “stunt.”
In the wake of the court ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his support, emphasizing his understanding of the platform. Chew is also scheduled to attend Trump’s inauguration.
The law mandates that Apple and Google remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new downloads. Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to $5,000 per user. Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, would also be required to enforce the ban.
In a last-minute development, Perplexity AI, a highly-valued startup backed by Jeff Bezos, proposed a merger with TikTok’s US subsidiary. This plan could provide ByteDance with an alternative solution, avoiding the need to sell the app entirely.