TikTok Returns to US App Stores After President Donald Trump Signs Executive Order
TikTok is once again available for download on Apple and Google app stores in the United States after President Donald Trump postponed enforcement of a ban on the Chinese-owned platform until April 5. The app, which boasts over 170 million American users, briefly went dark last month as the ban deadline loomed.
Trump’s executive order granted TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law that requires the company to sell its US operations or face an outright ban. The decision to restore TikTok’s availability came after Apple and Google received assurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for allowing downloads, according to Bloomberg.
The ban was originally passed under former President Joe Biden’s administration with bipartisan support in Congress. The law mandated that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest from its US operations due to national security concerns. The US government argued that the app could be used by China for surveillance and political influence, a claim that both TikTok and Beijing have consistently denied.
Despite previously supporting a TikTok ban during his first term, Trump’s stance shifted during his re-election campaign, where he acknowledged the platform’s significant influence. He has since suggested potential compromises, including the possibility of joint ownership. “What I’m thinking of saying to someone is buy it and give half to the US, half, and we’ll give you a permit,” Trump said in a recent press conference.
Several high-profile figures have been linked to potential acquisitions of TikTok’s US operations. Tech moguls such as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk have been floated as possible buyers. Other interested parties include investor Kevin O’Leary and media magnate Frank McCourt. Even YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has expressed interest after being approached by investors.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew reportedly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago following his electoral victory in November and later attended his inauguration. When the app resumed operations in the US last month, TikTok sent a message to its millions of users thanking Trump by name.
For now, the future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain as the new deadline approaches, with negotiations ongoing over a potential sale or compromise that aligns with national security concerns.
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