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TikTok continues to restore US service after Trump is sworn in

President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday promised to issue an executive order on Monday to extend TikTok’s operation in the United States through Inauguration Day.

Afterward, TikTok said it was in the process of restoring functionality, and some US users reported being able to regain access to the app following Saturday’s outage.

Trump wrote on TRUTH Social that he is “asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!”

“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the time before the ban begins, so that we can make an agreement to protect the security of our country,” continued the president-elect. “This order will also ensure that there will be no liability for any company that helps TikTok not go black before my order.”

“The American people deserve to see our joyous inauguration on Monday, and other events and conversations,” Trump said.

TIKTOK SHOUTS TRUMP AS OPERATING SYSTEM GETS DARK ON USER LEVELS

President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and their son Barron boarded a US Air Force jet bound for Dulles, Virginia on Jan. 18, 2025 in West Palm Beach. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)

Trump is expected to be sworn in at noon ET on Monday at the US Capitol, officially taking office as the 47th president.

His statement on Sunday did not specify how soon the extension would begin or how long it would last.

Regarding the proposed national security deal, Trump said he would like “the United States to have a 50% ownership position in the joint venture.”

By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it [stay] up. Without US approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it’s worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe billions,” Trump wrote. “So, my first thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners where the US gets 50% joint ownership. established within the US and any purchase we choose.”

The TikTok account on X dedicated to the release of policy updates posted a statement later on Sunday saying: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.”

“We are grateful to President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not face sanctions that benefit TikTok over 170 million Americans and allow over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the statement said. “It’s a strong defense of the First Amendment and against unreasonable censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”

The TikTok app was not available in Apple and Google stores as of 10:50 p.m. EST Saturday, as the stores are barred from offering the app under a bipartisan law signed by President Biden last spring that required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sell out the stadium on Sunday or face a US ban. Internet hosting services are also restricted from providing service to US users.

A TikTok message during a federal ban

A TikTok ban message appears on a cellphone screen with the TikTok logo on a tablet screen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on Jan. 19, 2025. (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

CONFIDENTIAL GROUPS, PROFESSIONALS, PARENTS CALL SCOTUS BLOCK OF TIKTOK WHILE OTHERS CALL DECISION ‘UNDEMOCRATIC’

Users who tried to use the app on Saturday night received the following message: “Sorry, TikTok is not available right now. The law banning TikTok has been passed in the US Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok right now.”

The app flagged Trump, saying: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

Earlier on Sunday, Trump issued a two-word message on TRUTH Social: “SAVE TIKTOK!”

Capitol security ahead of Inauguration Day

The US Capitol is shown at sunrise the day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump for a second term on January 19, 2025, in Washington, DC (Photos by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

ByteDance had nine months to sell TikTok to an authorized buyer but chose, along with TikTok, to take legal action against the law.

The US The Supreme Court on Friday agreed law, presents a national security risk due to its relationship with China, reports Fox News Digital.

Trump previously said he needs to “review” the ban before making a decision, and that he is “very likely” to give TikTok a 90-day extension from the January 19 deadline after taking office.

The law allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if the sale continues, although ByteDance has previously said it will not sell TikTok.

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew thanked Trump in a video Friday for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong First Amendment move and resists illegal censorship.”

FOX Business’ Alexandra Koch, Bradford Betz, Landon Mion, Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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