Home Trump delays TikTok ban as platform restores service in the US

Trump delays TikTok ban as platform restores service in the US

After more than 13 hours of the app going dark, TikTok says its in the process of restoring its services. The platform said in an X post on Sunday (Jan. 19) that it had been told service providers would “face no penalties.”

It added: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. 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.”

President-elect Donald Trump, who had earlier supported banning the platform, announced on Sunday that he would delay the law’s implementation to give more time for a deal to be worked out. Shortly after, the app started functioning again, and a popup message appeared thanking Trump by name to its millions of users.

Some users are saying they can fully access the platform on web browsers and the mobile app, while others are finding that they can use the full website but only certain parts of the app.

On Saturday, CEO Shou Zi Chew posted an Instagram Reel telling its users that the Chinese-owned company had been “fighting to protect the constitutional right to free speech,” reiterating their gratitude for Trump in the process.

The platform, owned by ByteDance, was banned because the government argued that TikTok’s Chinese parent company poses a national security risk.

Trump floats joint US ownership idea for TikTok

Trump took to Truth Social, the social media platform he owns, and posted: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! 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.”

He also suggested the idea of the United States taking “a 50% ownership position in a joint venture” for TikTok.

The screenshot contains a statement from Donald J. Trump on Truth Social regarding TikTok. It discusses his plans to issue an executive order to extend the time before the ban takes effect, ensuring a deal is made to protect national security and save TikTok. Trump also proposes a joint venture where the United States would have a 50% ownership stake, keeping the platform operational and valuable.
Donald Trump proposes a joint venture idea. Credit: Truth Social

However, after Trump stepped in, Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee from Arkansas, pushed back against him. Cotton warned that any company helping TikTok stay online would be violating the law.

Writing on social media, he said: “Any company that hosts, distributes, services, or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability under the law, not just from DOJ, but also under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state AGs. Think about it.”

Under the current law, a president can delay the TikTok ban by 90 days, but only if there’s proof that “significant progress” is being made toward a potential sale.

Featured image: Grok

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Suswati Basu
Tech journalist

Suswati Basu is a multilingual, award-winning editor and the founder of the intersectional literature channel, How To Be Books. She was shortlisted for the Guardian Mary Stott Prize and longlisted for the Guardian International Development Journalism Award. With 18 years of experience in the media industry, Suswati has held significant roles such as head of audience and deputy editor for NationalWorld news, digital editor for Channel 4 News and ITV News. She has also contributed to the Guardian and received training at the BBC As an audience, trends, and SEO specialist, she has participated in panel events alongside Google. Her…

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