TikTok restored in US after Trump’s pledge to reverse ban upon inauguration

TikTok has restored its services in the United States (US) following a brief nationwide shutdown caused by a federal ban over national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership.

The ban, which took effect on Sunday, temporarily forced TikTok offline, leaving over 170 million US users without access to the platform.

It also led to the app being removed from Apple and Google’s digital stores in compliance with federal regulations.

However, Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, pledged to delay the enforcement of the ban through an executive order on his first day in office.

In a statement on X, TikTok appreciated Trump for providing “the necessary clarity and assurance” for service providers to support the app without fear of penalties.

“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.

“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.”

According to reports, some users gained partial access to TikTok shortly after the announcement, although the app remains unavailable for download on Apple and Google’s stores.