TikTok resumed services in the U.S. on Sunday after briefly going dark. This came after President-elect Donald Trump intervened, delaying the enforcement of a law banning the app over national security concerns.

Trump Delays Ban and Offers Solution

On January 20, Trump promised to sign an executive order to delay the ban. This provides TikTok more time to find a buyer. Furthermore, Trump suggested that the U.S. or an American company take a 50% stake in the app. Trump stated, “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to stay up. Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”

TikTok Faces Temporary Shutdown

Meanwhile, TikTok was temporarily banned after its parent company, ByteDance, failed to meet the deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. subsidiary to non-Chinese owners. Consequently, U.S. users saw a message from Saturday night until Sunday afternoon informing them of the ban. The shutdown followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law.

TikTok Thanks Trump

After Trump’s announcement, TikTok thanked him for his intervention. The company stated that it was restoring services. “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,” TikTok said.

Trump Stresses Job Protection

Furthermore, Trump spoke at a rally, saying, “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it.” He also added, “We don’t want to give our business to China, we don’t want to give our business to other people.”

Law Delays and ByteDance’s Resistance

The law allows for a 90-day delay if the White House shows progress. However, ByteDance has refused to sell TikTok. The Biden administration has left enforcement of the law to Trump. In response to the shutdown, many U.S. users quickly searched for VPNs. Additionally, they worried about their purchases on TikTok Shop.

TikTok CEO Attends Inauguration

Finally, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, further highlighting TikTok’s continued importance to the U.S. government.a