TikTok has resumed services for its 170 million US users after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying a recently enacted ban on the app.
The ruling, upheld by the Supreme Court last week, requires TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance to sell its US operations or face a shutdown over national security concerns.
Despite the Biden administration’s decision not to enforce the ban in its final hours, TikTok went offline Saturday evening. Trump’s intervention on Sunday morning led to the app’s swift restoration, with TikTok thanking him for providing "clarity and assurance."
The executive order is expected Monday, but legal experts note its authority to override the law is unclear.
The Supreme Court has ruled that only substantial progress on security concerns could justify a delay. Trump’s actions signal a stark shift from his earlier support for the ban, sparking debate among lawmakers and legal analysts.