TikTok is back online in the US following Donald Trump's intervention, however it is not available on the Google and Apple app stores.

Donald Trump's vow to postpone a federal law ban, TikTok has resumed operations for 170 million US users. In order to safeguard national security and prolong compliance time, he intends to issue an executive order that will shield businesses that support TikTok's ongoing access from liability.

Following Donald Trump's pledge to allow the app more time to comply with a federal law that banned it, TikTok is back up and running for its 170 million users in the US. Even though ByteDance's app was back in use, it was still noticeably missing from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

"I'm pleading with businesses to keep TikTok active! In order to reach an agreement to safeguard our national security, I will issue an executive order on Monday to prolong the time frame before the law's prohibitions go into effect. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order."

Consequently, the incoming president stated, "My first idea is a joint venture between the existing owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whatever purchase we so choose."

Notably, in the last months of his first administration, Trump tried to outlaw TikTok and signed an executive order on August 6, 2020, to that effect. But when Joe Biden assumed president in January 2021, he overturned the ban after TikTok successfully obtained an injunction against it.

However, after he started to minimize the privacy and national security issues with TikTok in the middle of 2023, Trump has demonstrated a shift in position. The incoming US president may have promised the app a 90-day extension because he feels that TikTok has been crucial in helping him engage with American youth.

In response to Donald Trump's announcement, TikTok says:
TikTok announced in a statement shortly after Trump's post that it was "in the process of restoring service."

"We appreciate President Trump giving our service providers the clarity and guarantee they won't be penalized for serving more than 170 million Americans on TikTok," the platform for short videos continued.

What caused TikTok to shut down in the US?
In accordance with a federal regulation that was passed last year, TikTok had until January 19, 2025, to sever its connection with its Chinese owner and sell to a US-based business or risk being banned. Even though TikTok has twice contested the rule, the Supreme Court's most recent ruling indicated that the app will eventually be banned.

TikTok/ByteDance has not been receptive to talks of a sale or merger, despite President-elect Trump's mention of forming a joint venture with a US-based business owning a 50% stake. Perplexity AI and ByteDance have reportedly made a proposal to form a joint venture in order to maintain the app's viability in the United States, according to media sources on Sunday. However, it is unclear what will finally happen with this bid.