President-elect Donald Trump revealed on Sunday his proposed plan to attempt to save TikTok after the app went dark on Saturday evening.
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! 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 order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump, who takes office tomorrow, wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday morning.
After Trump’s announcement, TikTok told Newsweek on Sunday morning that it was “restoring service.”
Newsweek reached out to the Trump transition team for comment on Sunday.
Why It Matters
TikTok’s shutdown marks the first time a major social media platform has been banned in the United States. Lawmakers and security experts have long raised concerns over potential data collection and manipulation by the Chinese government. The incoming administration’s approach will have significant implications for U.S.-China relations, domestic tech policy, and the millions of Americans who rely on TikTok for income and cultural expression.
Trump’s proposal is a joint venture, which involves a 50 percent ownership stake for the U.S. government in any future deal to restructure the app. “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars—maybe trillions,” the president-elect wrote in his Truth Social post.
A photo illustration with the homepage of TikTok being displayed on the screen of an iPhone on April 24, 2024, in Paris. Inset: President-elect Donald Trump is seen on June 1, 2024, in Newark, New Jersey. Trump on Sunday revealed a plan to save TikTok after the app went dark on Saturday, due to a bipartisan law banning the social media platform in the U.S.
Chesnot/Luke Hales/Getty Image
What to Know
The ban—enacted by Congress last year with overwhelming bipartisan support—required TikTok to either sever ties with its parent company, ByteDance, which is linked to the Chinese government, or shut down operations. TikTok challenged the measure in court, citing First Amendment concerns, but the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on Friday upholding the law.
The Biden administration deferred enforcement of the ban to Trump’s incoming team, with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating, “We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office.”
On Sunday morning, Trump confirmed that his executive order would address liability concerns for companies like Apple and Google, which complied with the ban by removing TikTok from their app stores.
“My initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.
In recent months, Trump’s stance on TikTok has evolved. During his first term, he signed executive orders to ban the app, which were later blocked by courts. His change in position followed meetings with American investors and public acknowledgment of TikTok’s role in his political outreach during the 2024 election.
What People Are Saying
TikTok told Newsweekin an emailed statement on Sunday: “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. 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.”
Senators Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, and Pete Ricketts, a Nebraska Republican, said in a joint statement on Sunday: “There is no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of its effective date.”
What Happens Next
Trump’s executive order is expected to be issued Monday, the day of his inauguration. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has been invited to attend the inauguration and is reportedly in talks with the incoming administration. Meanwhile, alternative social media companies like Meta and SnapChat are poised to capitalize on the app’s absence if a resolution is not reached soon.
Whether Trump’s plan will succeed in balancing national security concerns with the platform’s continued operation remains to be seen. For now, TikTok’s future in the U.S. hangs in the balance.
Update, 01/19/25 at 1:03 p.m. ET: A statement from TikTok was added.
