TikTok announced Sunday that it is in the process of restoring its services in the United States after an initial ban began to take effect earlier in the day.
“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,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
When users returned to the platform on Sunday, they were greeted with a message reading, “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
The announcement followed a brief disruption of TikTok services late Saturday night through early Sunday morning.
The U.S. ban stemmed from a bipartisan measure passed last spring, which granted TikTok a 270-day window to sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face removal from the country. Rather than comply with the sale order, TikTok launched a First Amendment legal challenge, which was ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The court’s unanimous decision cited national security concerns over the potential for the Chinese government to collect user data or manipulate content on the platform.
On Saturday evening, some users encountered a message stating, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” followed by an explanation: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, this means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
By Sunday morning, major app stores operated by Apple, Google, and Samsung began removing TikTok from their platforms.
The Biden administration, earlier in the week, indicated it would not enforce the ban, deferring its implementation to President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday. Trump has vowed to reverse the ban and work toward a resolution that allows TikTok to continue operating in the United States.
As TikTok works to fully restore its services, discussions with the incoming administration are expected to play a key role in determining the platform’s long-term future in the U.S.
