LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
TikTok Returns to US App Stores After Presidential Extension
President Trump postpones ban, allowing TikTok's reinstatement in US app stores and offering a potential path for ownership negotiations.
15 February 2025 · 06:04 UTC
The app, which boasts over 170 million users in the US, had experienced a temporary shutdown as the deadline for its ban approached.
On his first day in office, Trump announced a 75-day extension for TikTok's owners to comply with a law requiring the divestment of its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a complete ban.
Trump made his announcement via his Truth Social account on February 14, 2025, the day after TikTok was briefly unavailable to US users.
In his post, the President urged companies to refrain from allowing TikTok to remain inoperative, stating, "I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security."
The proposed plan entails a joint venture in which the United States would acquire a 50% ownership stake in TikTok or its new owners, facilitating a partnership that is expected to address national security concerns while ensuring the platform's viability in the US market.
Trump emphasized the valuation of TikTok, suggesting that with US approval, the company could be worth hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of dollars.
TikTok confirmed the reinstatement of its app on social media platform X, indicating that President Trump's intervention had provided "the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans."
Previously, the app had been removed from major app stores, including those operated by Apple and Google, due to legal restrictions requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok.
Prior to the app going dark, users encountered a message concerning the law's enactment.
The developments around TikTok reflect ongoing tensions regarding data privacy and national security implications tied to foreign-owned technology platforms operating in the US market.