KUALA LUMPUR — Some 12 hours after going dark in the US, TikTok is back online after President-elect Donald Trump, who is to be sworn in today, said he would sign an executive order to revive it after taking office.
A notification on the short reel app states: “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
Earlier on Sunday in the US, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he is askingcompanies “not to let TikTok stay dark!”, Bernama reports.
“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period before the law’s prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security,” Trump said.
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” he also wrote on social media.
In contrast, the Joe Biden administration had wanted TikTok to fully divest its US operations or face the nationwide ban on Jan 19, on grounds of national security concerns.
TikTok, which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, stopped working for its 170 million American users on Sunday after a law took effect banning the app’s continued operation over concerns that Americans’ data could be misused by Chinese officials.
Trump previously he would give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban while working on a political solution.
Later today, Trump will take the oath of office as the 47th president of the US and JD Vance will take the oath of office as vice president. – January 20, 2025