TikTok Back Online: Trump Promise Ends US Service Blackout
TikTok went dark on January 19, 2025, leaving 170 million American users locked out of their favorite app. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, had to either sell its U.S. operations or shut down completely under federal orders. The service came back online just 14 hours later. The brief blackout substantially affected over 7 million small businesses that depend on the platform. President Trump stepped in with a vital solution for the app. He promised to delay the federal ban through an executive order, which gave ByteDance more time to sort out its ownership issues.
Immediate Service Restoration
TikTok announced its service restoration on Sunday afternoon after a 14-hour interruption. Users received a welcome message that read, “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!“.
Users first regained access through web browsers as the restoration began. The platform’s features returned step by step, which allowed users to access content gradually. TikTok released a statement to acknowledge their service providers’ help in restoring the platform.
The company thanked President-elect Trump for reassuring their service providers about penalties while they served TikTok’s 170 million American users and supported 7 million small businesses. Existing users could access the platform, but TikTok remained unavailable for download on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.
Trump gave service providers clear guidance about supporting the platform. This reassurance was significant to maintain TikTok’s resilient infrastructure and ensure continuous service delivery to millions of American users. The platform’s technical teams restored different features, though users reported varying levels of access. Web browsers offered full functionality while mobile apps recovered steadily.
Trump’s Last-Minute Intervention
President-elect Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order on Monday to prevent TikTok from shutting down in the United States. He promised to extend the timeline before the law’s restrictions begin.
Trump shared his vision for TikTok’s future that centers on a joint venture structure. “The United States have a 50% ownership position” in the platform, he proposed. Service providers received his assurance that they would not face penalties for keeping TikTok running.
Republican lawmakers had mixed reactions to Trump’s move. House Speaker Mike Johnson saw this as an attempt to “force along a true divestiture, changing of hands, the ownership”. Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts stood against the decision and claimed “there is no legal basis for any kind of extension”.
The law allows a 90-day extension only if a sale shows “significant progress” and can finish within that period. Trump’s joint venture proposal might face challenges since the legislation caps “foreign adversary” ownership at 20%.
This move shows a complete turnaround from Trump’s 2020 position when he tried to ban the platform over national security concerns. His new stance came after meeting with one of the app’s American billionaire investors. TikTok CEO Shou Chew will attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony, which highlights the dramatic improvement in relations between the platform and the incoming administration.
Technical Implementation Challenges
TikTok faces significant technical challenges in the United States, even after restoring its services. Users cannot download the platform from Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store. Apple tells users “TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you’re in.” On top of that, Google Play displays “Downloads for this app are paused due to current US legal requirements”.
Users with TikTok already installed deal with major limitations. They can still use the app. All the same, they can’t get software updates or access new features. This situation creates problems especially when you have long-term usage in mind. Without updates, users might face performance issues and compatibility problems with future operating system versions.
These technical restrictions go beyond simple access. Visitors to the United States find their TikTok functionality limited within U.S. borders. These restrictions include:
- No in-app purchases
- No new subscriptions
- Limited features while in U.S. territory
TikTok’s technical teams started a step-by-step restoration plan. They began with web-based access to work around app store restrictions. Oracle and Akamai serve as TikTok’s hosting provider and CDN partner under Trump’s assurance of “no liability”. Security experts caution against unofficial workarounds that could expose users to malware and data breaches.
TikTok’s recent 14-hour shutdown showed how vulnerable the platform is to U.S. regulatory pressures. President-elect Trump stepped in with a decisive move that gave ByteDance more time through a planned executive order. The platform brought its services back online quickly, but major technical challenges still exist. This uncertainty affects 170 million American users and 7 million small businesses who worry about their future access.
The situation reveals deeper consequences for international tech companies that operate in the U.S. Trump’s suggestion of a joint venture with 50% U.S. ownership points to possible changes in foreign-owned platform operations. TikTok’s case now serves as an example for other international tech companies dealing with U.S. regulations. Data security concerns and foreign ownership issues continue to shape how digital platforms will operate.
