
In a reverse move no one saw coming, TikTok has announced that it is restoring service in the US, just 12 hours after shutting down due to a ban enacted by the Supreme Court. The move would have revoked access for 170 millions TikTok users in the US, the platform’s largest user base in the world. Now, the decision has been overturned, seemingly due to an interference by the just elected President Donald Trump.
In a rally days before his inauguration, Trump said that they “have to save” TikTok.
He promised 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.”
In the weeks leading up to the ban, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew has been meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. This seemingly bode well for the company’s future.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” read the pop-up message sent to TikTok users opening the app on Saturday night. “Please stay tuned!”
Shortly after, the app’s message brought an updated development that “in agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.” The notification also hails the quick turnaround “as a result of President Trump’s efforts.”
The TikTok ban originally went into effect after the Supreme Court on Friday upheld a ban that was passed with broad bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law in April by President Joe Biden. The law prevents American companies from hosting or serving content for the Chinese-owned social media platform unless it sells itself to a buyer from the United States or one of its allies.
On Saturday, users began receiving 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.” The app also vanished from US App Store and Google Play Store. It has not returned as of the writing of this article.