TikTok will restore its services in the US on Sunday, following President-elect Donald Trump's plans to reinstate the popular short video app. This decision comes just hours before his inauguration and marks a significant shift from his previous positions on the app during his first term.
In 2020, Trump tried banning TikTok over national security concerns related to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
However, his latest actions reveal a fresh perspective. He acknowledged the app for helping him connect with younger voters in the 2024 presidential election.

At a rally on Sunday, Trump declared, "We have to save it," emphasizing his intention to issue an executive order delaying the enforcement of a federal ban. The ban, signed into law by President Joe Biden, required ByteDance to divert from TikTok by January 19. Trump's intervention offered TikTok temporary relief, allowing it to restore services to its 170 million US subscribers gradually.
In a statement, TikTok thanked Trump for clarifying and assuring service providers of the app's quick return. The platform went offline late Saturday, causing concern among its user base and around 7 million small businesses that rely on it. By Sunday evening, limited functionality had been resumed for some users, but the app was still unavailable for download in the United States.
The solution Trump proposed involves a joint venture granting the US 50% ownership in TikTok to address national security concerns. He expressed confidence in negotiating an agreement that will balance security with the app's continued operation, saying, "I would like the United States to have a significant proposition in this venture."

The development comes amid ongoing tensions in US-China relations. China's foreign ministry has encouraged the US to create a favorable economic climate, citing TikTok’s popularity among American users.
While Trump's initiatives have sparked hope among TikTok users, there are still uncertainties about how his executive orders will interact with current legislation.
For now, TikTok's return underscores the complex interplay between politics, technology, and public demand.