The federal ban on TikTok took effect on Sunday, but President-elect Donald Trump allowed the app to “come back” hours later.
President Donald Trump ordered the federal government on Monday to hold off on enforcing a nationwide ban on TikTok for 75 days, giving its Chinese owner ByteDance more time to sell its stake in the platform or reach a deal with Trump.
After a dizzying time, the wildly popular social media platform was automatically shut down for US users for more than 12 hours last weekend, until Trump pledged to take action. What happened? Let’s take a look at Sforum’s article explaining why Donald Trump saved TikTok.
Why TikTok Was Immediately Reopened After It Was ‘Deleted’ in the US
TikTok was threatened by a US federal law that required its US subsidiary to divest its Chinese ownership – the app is controlled by Beijing-based ByteDance – by January 19 over concerns that the Chinese government could access users’ personal data and manipulate its powerful algorithm, which determines what users see.
TikTok was actually delisted in the US on January 20, 2025
TikTok was actually delisted in the US on January 20, 2025
The law prohibits companies like Apple, Google or Oracle from distributing or maintaining the app unless ByteDance completes a deal by January 19, effectively banning it.
Last week, TikTok announced that it would “shut down” if the outgoing Biden administration did not provide assurances. A vague statement from the Biden White House that Trump would enforce the ban was deemed insufficient and so TikTok “pulled the plug,” prompting many US TikTokers to bid farewell.
Soon after, Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social platform that he would issue an executive order to extend the time before the law’s provisions take effect, holding any company “involved in keeping TikTok from shutting down prior to my order” liable.
Trump’s executive order gives TikTok more time
Trump’s executive order gives TikTok more time
TikTok decided it had received enough clarity from the new administration, saying that on Sunday Trump had assured “our service providers that they will not face any penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans” and that it would restore service.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has denied Chinese state involvement in the app, saying that ByteDance is not “an agent of China or any other country.”
Is Trump’s executive order legally enforceable?
The law allows for an extension if there are signs of progress in transactional negotiations to sell TikTok’s US operations to a non-Chinese owner, but it’s unclear whether that could happen after January 19.
Is Trump’s executive order legally enforceable?
Is Trump’s executive order legally enforceable?
The Supreme Court has upheld the law, which was passed by Congress with Republican and Democratic support and approved by Biden.
Republican lawmakers said companies affected by the law must comply, warning that anyone who violates it faces “catastrophic bankruptcy.”
Is Trump’s executive order legally enforceable?
Despite its return, TikTok will be forced to “sell itself” if it wants to continue operating
“Now that the law is in effect, there is no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of the effective date,” Senators Pete Ricketts and Tom Cotton said in a joint statement. “For TikTok to be able to operate again in the future, ByteDance must agree to a sale that meets the law’s qualified divestment requirements by severing all ties between TikTok and Communist China.”
Why did Trump change his mind about TikTok?
Trump tried to ban TikTok on security grounds by executive order during his first term as president but was unable to do so after a successful lawsuit.
Why did Trump change his mind about TikTok?
Trump “rescued” TikTok simply to win over the people?
However, he said he has “a warm place in his heart for TikTok,” where he has 14.9 million followers. It is known that when he launched his presidential campaign this term, his TikTok was also an extremely effective media outlet.
Trump’s billionaire ally and Republican donor Jeff Yass is also a major investor in ByteDance. His financial trading firm Susquehanna International Group owns a 15% stake, and Yass, a libertarian who supports free speech, has described the TikTok ban as “anathema to everything I believe in.”
Why did Trump change his mind about TikTok?
The disappearance of TikTok would greatly benefit rivals like Meta,…
The newly inaugurated US president has also expressed his dislike of Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, in relation to TikTok. “If you take away TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their revenue,” he posted on Truth Social last year.
Meta has tried to close the gap with Trump in recent weeks by loosening its moderation guidelines and bringing in a senior position for a former George W. Bush White House official, Joel Kaplan.
Does Donald Trump really want to ‘‘rescue’’ TikTok?
In addition to the article: “SAVE TIKTOK,” posted on Truth Social early Sunday morning and signing an executive order delaying the ban and urging tech companies to prevent TikTok from disappearing altogether, Trump said in another article on Truth Social that he wants the United States to have “50% ownership” in TikTok “in a joint venture.”
Does Donald Trump Really Want to “Rescue” TikTok?
Donald Trump is Now Pushing ByteDance to Sell Its “Baby”
He indicated that ByteDance could still be involved and that the joint venture could take place between “the current owners and/or new owners” with the United States receiving “50% ownership in a joint venture formed between the United States and any purchaser of our choosing.”
This shows that Donald Trump is not that “good”, he puts America’s interests first and is now trying to “control” the multi-million dollar app by indirectly forcing TikTok to “sell itself” to the US government. At the very least, this has helped TikTok return to this country.
Does Donald Trump really want to “rescue” TikTok?
Foreign investors have also invested quite heavily in the parent company – ByteDance
It is unclear what would constitute 50% US ownership. According to TikTok, Beijing-based ByteDance is now 60% owned by non-Chinese investors, including BlackRock and US-based General Atlantic.
What does China say?
In 2023, the Chinese government said it would “firmly oppose” any forced sale of TikTok and a deal would need to be approved. On Monday, China’s foreign ministry signaled a more open stance, saying companies should “make their own decisions” about their operations and deals.
Elon Musk Wants to Buy TikTok
The world’s richest man is reportedly keen on owning a 50% stake in TikTok
There are signs that Beijing is trying to influence the outcome, following reports this month that officials in China have discussed selling TikTok’s US unit to Elon Musk or using the Tesla CEO as a broker in a deal to save the platform. TikTok has described the report of a possible sale to Musk as “completely fictional.”
Final Thoughts
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the TikTok saga is what the sprawling lawsuit reveals about power in the digital world. Politicians have begun to realize that some digital giants – who operate platforms used and appreciated by millions of people – are different from other large corporations and hold a new kind of power: platform power.
TikTok was saved by President Donal Trump
And the US government is craving this virtual power more than ever! From someone who tried to ban it for security reasons, now Donald Trump himself has “rescued” the above application. Could TikTok have used its platform power (more than 170 million users in the United States) to “trick” a sitting president into becoming its savior?
Or Trump himself came up with a clever plan to force the Chinese to sell their application to gain control. Personally, I think this is definitely the most likely reason why Donald Trump saved TikTok right after taking office.