Trump’s-Executive

TikTok Thanks Trump: Trump’s Bold Move Extends TikTok’s US Operation, Giving ByteDance Opportunity to Find Solutions Before Ban Takes Effect

 

TikTok service is online again for tens of millions of American users after an hours-long service outage caused by a federal order to ban it. The measure comes after the president-elect Donald Trump said that he would make an executive order that would allow the ban for 90 days.

A 90-day extension gives its parent company ByteDance plenty of time before the ban sticks.

 

Trump's intervention keeps running for TikTok

 

The chief executive officer of TikTok, Shou Chew, thanked Trump for his efforts that enabled the application to remain functional for its users in the United States. Users were shut out of the app on Saturday but were greeted with a later message that read, "Thanks to President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US!

The federal ban, enacted because of national security concerns over ByteDance's Chinese ownership, required the company to sell its US operations by January 18, 2025. However, the executive order grants TikTok an additional 90 days, enabling ByteDance to search for an approved buyer. While no buyers have been confirmed yet, an AI startup, Perplexity AI, proposed merging with TikTok's U.S. business without acquiring its core algorithm.

 

What the Executive Order Means for ByteDance

 

It was passed in April, with broad bipartisan support. A sale already underway can earn a temporary extension of up to six months by the current president. Despite the uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future, Trump's decision provides at least a temporary sense of reprieve as tensions are somewhat kept at bay while the platform continues its operations in the US.

Some lawmakers still insist on a complete ban, but others perceive the executive order as a step that will help achieve national security without antagonizing millions of TikTok's US users. The following weeks can be pretty busy for Trump's administration as they are expected to back the operations of TikTok, while ByteDance does its best to play by the book and find a buyer.

 

TikTok Users React to the Unplanned Shutdown

 

TikTok users are relieved by the news, but some, like influencer Tiffany Watson, have expressed concern over the platform’s unpredictability. As uncertainty looms, creators hope TikTok will stay available, offering them a space to connect and share content.