TikTok users in the United States received a glimmer of hope on Sunday as the popular app was made available to some users following President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that he would sign an executive order to delay the federal ban of the app. In a statement posted on X, TikTok expressed gratitude to President Trump for providing clarity and assurance to service providers, allowing the app to be accessible to over 170 million Americans and 7 million small businesses.
The decision to bring back TikTok was seen as a victory for free speech and against censorship by the company. TikTok also expressed willingness to work with President Trump on a long-term solution to keep the app operational in the United States.
Despite the temporary reprieve, the future of TikTok remains uncertain under the current law. The Supreme Court had ruled to uphold the ban on TikTok as its Chinese owner, ByteDance, had not divested the company to a non-Chinese entity. The law was set to take effect on Sunday, leading to the removal of the app from Apple and Google's app stores.
President Trump had previously expressed a desire for the U.S. to hold 50% ownership of TikTok in a joint venture to ensure its continued operation. However, ByteDance has maintained that it has no intentions of selling the company.
As TikTok users in the U.S. await further developments, the company's pledge to work with President Trump and restore service offers a glimmer of hope for the app's future in the country. The issue of TikTok's ownership and compliance with U.S. regulations remains a key point of contention that will need to be addressed in the coming days.