TikTok restores US services after Trump vows to save it from ban

[midian182]

What just happened? It's been an eventful weekend for TikTok. US users found they were unable to access the app on Saturday, the day before the law banning it in the United States came into effect. But services were being restored on Sunday when President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order to delay the ban, giving TikTok more time to reach a deal that will allow it to stay in the US.

On Saturday, TikTok lived up to its threat to cut user access for users in the US ahead of the January 19 ban. Anyone in the country logging into the app was met with a message that read: "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now."

"We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!"

The blackout didn't last long. TikTok's services began returning on Sunday, for which the company thanked Trump. "As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US," it wrote in a message.

Related reading: Meta could make billions from TikTok ban, but the app's future remains uncertain

In a statement, TikTok thanked Trump for "providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties (for) providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive." It added that the company would work with Trump "on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."

Despite being tough on China and attempting to ban the app during his first term in office, Trump has opposed the TikTok ban, claiming the app helped him win the youth vote. He has promised to delay the law's implementation, even though it is already in effect, by up to 90 days after his inauguration. The law had required Chinese owner ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations by January 19 to continue operating in the US.

Speaking about TikTok at a rally on Sunday, Trump said, "Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it." The incoming president wrote on his Truth Social platform that he wanted a "joint venture" in which the US government would own 50% of the company.

Trump said the executive order would specify there would be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going offline before his order.

The Biden administration had said it would not enforce the law in its last hours of office, leaving it up to the incoming Trump administration. But TikTok still pulled its services on Saturday.

When asked about TikTok and Trump seeking a deal, China's foreign ministry said on Monday that it believed companies should "decide independently" about their operations and deals.

"TikTok has operated in the US for many years and is deeply loved by American users," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. "We hope that the US can earnestly listen to the voice of reason and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for firms operating there."

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas, doesn't share Trump's soft spot for TikTok. He wrote that any company that helps TikTok stay online, such as Google or Apple, would be breaking the law.

"Any company that hosts, distributes, services, or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability under the law, not just from DOJ, but also under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state AGs," Cotton wrote.

Any company that hosts, distributes, services, or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability under the law, not just from DOJ, but also under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state AGs. Think about… https://t.co/XamZ1qAk2K

– Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 19, 2025

TikTok is no longer available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store at the time of writing.

It was reported last week that Chinese officials were considering selling TikTok to X owner Elon Musk.

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TikTok restores US services after Trump vows to save it from ban

 

[The Talking Tech]

Months ago Trump asked his mindless Republicans in the Senate and the Supreme Court to ban TikTok under the Biden's Administration, only for him to unblock it the moment he takes office.

Such deceitful actions worthy of Trump, but what can we expect of someone like him that took without authorization dozens of National Classified Documents and dumped them in a bathroom.

 

[HardwareHunt365]

Months ago Trump asked his mindless Republicans in the Senate and the Supreme Court to ban TikTok under the Biden's Administration, only for him to unblock it the moment he takes office.

Such deceitful actions worthy of Trump, but what can we expect of someone like him that took without authorization dozens of National Classified Documents and dumped them in a bathroom.

This was the closest we've ever come to TikTok being wiped off the face of the Earth for good. But alas, so close, yet so far.

 

[gigantor21]

So he stopped caring about all the security risks--which his own administration brought up in the first place--once the app helped him personally? Why am I not surprised.

All this Tiktok drama felt like manufactured political theater anyway. And a way for Zuckerberg and Musk to kill the only real competition they have right now.

 

[opckieran]

Months ago Trump asked his mindless Republicans in the Senate and the Supreme Court to ban TikTok under the Biden's Administration, only for him to unblock it the moment he takes office.

Such deceitful actions worthy of Trump, but what can we expect of someone like him that took without authorization dozens of National Classified Documents and dumped them in a bathroom.

Umm… you DO realize that anything passed by Congress ultimately has to be signed by the sitting president right? As in, Biden? How he signed the bill to ban TikTok? Not Trump?

It’s craaaaaazy how hard these conspiracies go with how much power Trump supposedly had these past four years. It’s TDS on steroids.

On the other hand, if you want to complain about classified documents, clearly and sadly neither party gives a crap about the mishandling of classified information. That ship sailed in 2016.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Umm… you DO realize that anything passed by Congress ultimately has to be signed by the sitting president right? As in, Biden? How he signed the bill to ban TikTok? Not Trump?

It’s craaaaaazy how hard these conspiracies go with how much power Trump supposedly had these past four years. It’s TDS on steroids.

On the other hand, if you want to complain about classified documents, clearly and sadly neither party gives a crap about the mishandling of classified information. That ship sailed in 2016.

Of course Biden had to sign it, after all the poor guy was so happy that at least one thing was "bipartisan" ... only if he knew it was all a Trump's trick to be reversed.

About people not giving a crap about the mishandled documents?...well Trump would have been convicted (again) for it...but people voting got him an "Out of Jail Pass"... literally.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I'm a bit confused here.

A law is in effect banning tiktok yeah? So why does it get to operate on the "word" of the incoming president? There is no legal authority there until he is president and until he actually starts signing documents.

America used to be a nation of laws, or at least it believed it was. Now look how blatantly even communists flaunt our laws.

The decline continues...

 

[ZedRM]

TikTok is a garbage, predatory platform that really needs to be gone.

 

[wiyosaya]

Yeah! More brain-rot for our children! /s

I guess it remains to be seen what Trump gets out of this.

 

[wiyosaya]

I'm a bit confused here.

A law is in effect banning tiktok yeah? So why does it get to operate on the "word" of the incoming president? There is no legal authority there until he is president and until he actually starts signing documents.

America used to be a nation of laws, or at least it believed it was. Now look how blatantly even communists flaunt our laws.

The decline continues...

Make America Grope Again. /s

 

[wiyosaya]

Of course Biden had to sign it, after all the poor guy was so happy that at least one thing was "bipartisan" ... only if he knew it was all a Trump's trick to be reversed.

IF ?? Of course he did. US government is about continuation of policy and its a law now. Biden certainly knows Trump sees no benefit in continuing anything he did not sign into law. It will take more than Trump to change the law now.

TikTok will certainly be taken to court. Trump might issue an executive order, but if he does, it will be challenged in court, too.

 

[wiyosaya]

On the other hand, if you want to complain about classified documents, clearly and sadly neither party gives a crap about the mishandling of classified information. That ship sailed in 2016.

Legal experts, I know they have no credibility on the "right," agree that there is a world of difference in how Biden "mishandled" TS documents, and how Trump "mishandled" documents. It amazes me that there are still people out there that fail to comprehend this and think that because Trump said he did not mishandle them, him saying that means anything at all.

 

[Tantor]

Legal experts, I know they have no credibility on the "right," agree that there is a world of difference in how Biden "mishandled" TS documents, and how Trump "mishandled" documents. It amazes me that there are still people out there that fail to comprehend this and think that because Trump said he did not mishandle them, him saying that means anything at all.

Very true. Mishandling classified material has a specific meaning. It means failure to maintain proper controls over the material. In the case of paper documents, they must be properly stored in a certified container. When removed, they must be logged out, and under the full-time control of someone with a clearance and a 'need to know'. People without the proper clearance must be prevented from seeing see the documents.

By that standard, Trump did not mishandle TS documents. They were kept in an FBI certified secure container at Mar a Lago. As president, he retains his security clearance and can handle any classified documents he wants to. Trump also has a security team and extensive camera surveillance at Mar a Lago.

Therefore, the claim against Trump was was not about the physical security of the documents, or against his security team. Rather, it was about his authority to keep them.

In contrast, Biden actually lost physical control of his documents. No secure container. No security team. No personal accountability. Anyone walking past his garage could have picked them up. Hell, Biden didn't even know the documents existed. Supposedly they found one of his vacated offices that had lots of uncontrolled classified material.

What Biden did, leaving TS in a garage, would normally get his security clearance yanked.

And don't get me started about Hillary Clinton and her home-brew computer network which was serving out classified documents. Appalling loss of document controls.

 

[Tantor]

Here's the truth.

Tiktok is being banned because it's a threat to the Israeli interests. Not because it's owned by the Chinese. They don't want kids to be exposed to what's going on in Gaza.

 

[Tantor]

About people not giving a crap about the mishandled documents?...well Trump would have been convicted (again) for it...but people voting got him an "Out of Jail Pass"... literally.

FYI - Trump did not 'mishandle' the documents.

 

[dualkelly]

FYI - Trump did not 'mishandle' the documents.

No he just stole them and then sold them to the highest bidder lol

 

[The Talking Tech]

FYI - Trump did not 'mishandle' the documents.

Sure....he just took them without authorization and dumped them in a bathroom for everyone to read while taking a piss....right?

 

[The Talking Tech]

Very true. Mishandling classified material has a specific meaning. It means failure to maintain proper controls over the material. In the case of paper documents, they must be properly stored in a certified container. When removed, they must be logged out, and under the full-time control of someone with a clearance and a 'need to know'. People without the proper clearance must be prevented from seeing see the documents.

By that standard, Trump did not mishandle TS documents. They were kept in an FBI certified secure container at Mar a Lago. As president, he retains his security clearance and can handle any classified documents he wants to. Trump also has a security team and extensive camera surveillance at Mar a Lago.

Therefore, the claim against Trump was was not about the physical security of the documents, or against his security team. Rather, it was about his authority to keep them.

In contrast, Biden actually lost physical control of his documents. No secure container. No security team. No personal accountability. Anyone walking past his garage could have picked them up. Hell, Biden didn't even know the documents existed. Supposedly they found one of his vacated offices that had lots of uncontrolled classified material.

What Biden did, leaving TS in a garage, would normally get his security clearance yanked.

And don't get me started about Hillary Clinton and her home-brew computer network which was serving out classified documents. Appalling loss of document controls.

"They were kept in an FBI certified secure container at Mar a Lago."

The problem is...the FBI never certified that place as a secured place for such...but obviously you are reaching for straws....Trump was lucky people like you voted for him giving him an "out of jail card" for what would have been anothet sure conviction.

 

[dualkelly]

"They were kept in an FBI certified secure container at Mar a Lago."

The problem is...the FBI never certified that place as a secured place for such...but obviously you are reaching for straws....Trump was lucky people like you voted for him giving him an "out of jail card" for what would have been anothet sure conviction.

They are so red pilled and so far up trumps rear end that they will bend all sense of the truth. They dont really care about the truth. It was all documented and photographed how trump stole and mishandled classifed docs and offered them up for sale but they do not care. they would let the orange clown unzip his pants and they would bend over at any time anywhere and take whatever trump tells them.

 

[The Talking Tech]

They are so red pilled and so far up trumps rear end that they will bend all sense of the truth. They dont really care about the truth. It was all documented and photographed how trump stole and mishandled classifed docs and offered them up for sale but they do not care. they would let the orange clown unzip his pants and they would bend over at any time anywhere and take whatever trump tells them.

Sadly, most Americans have lost total sense of self dignity voting for Trump...but hey the next four years there will be plenty of them regretting that vote....that I can guarantee.

 

[kiwigraeme]

USA really has become a whimsical place

Tweedledee and Tweedledum

Trump in Asunderland

The pills mother gives does nothing at all