Trump Moves to Revive TikTok in the U.S., Extends Deadline for Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to issue an executive order on his first day in office, aiming to restore TikTok’s service in the country after it was temporarily suspended. Trump revealed that he intends to give the Chinese parent company of TikTok more time to find an approved buyer before enforcing a full ban. The social media app had ceased operations for millions of American users over the weekend, causing concern among its user base.

Trump expressed that he would like U.S. investors to own at least 50% of TikTok’s American operations before the app’s return. In a message on his Truth Social account, Trump confirmed that TikTok would be reinstated in the U.S., thanking those who supported the initiative. He also made it clear that no company would be held responsible for helping to prevent TikTok from shutting down before the executive order.

The decision follows concerns about national security risks related to TikTok’s Chinese ownership, with U.S. authorities fearing the misuse of American user data. As of Saturday night, TikTok had suspended its services for U.S. users, and by Sunday, the legal framework for shutting it down on national security grounds had been activated.

Trump’s administration has been under pressure to either sell or impose severe restrictions on other Chinese apps as well. TikTok’s temporary shutdown had significant ramifications, especially for the millions of users and marketing companies in the U.S. that rely on the platform for business and social interactions.

The development comes amidst heightened tensions between the U.S. and China, and despite the uncertainty over TikTok’s future, some investors have shown interest in acquiring the app’s U.S. operations. Among the interested parties are business figures like Elon Musk, with reports indicating that talks about selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to Musk have taken place, though these have been denied by the company.

While some competitors like Meta and Snapchat have seen increased stock prices during the ban, TikTok’s loyal user base has sought alternatives, including other social platforms. As negotiations continue, the future of TikTok remains a key topic in U.S.-China relations and the social media landscape.