Donald Trump rebrings TikTok online
The app was shut down after a law banning it on national security grounds came into effect.
TikTok began restoring its services in the US on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to revive the app upon taking office on Monday. Speaking at a rally ahead of his inauguration, Trump assured his supporters that TikTok, a platform used by 170 million Americans, would be brought back online through a joint venture that protects national security. Hours earlier, TikTok users had received a message crediting Trump for the app’s restoration efforts.
TikTok ceased operations late Saturday after a law banning the platform on national security grounds came into effect. The shutdown sparked a frenzy among users and businesses dependent on the app, with web searches for VPNs surging and concerns mounting over disruptions to TikTok Shop transactions. The app’s temporary return relieves millions, but important questions remain about its long-term future in the US.
Trump’s pledge to extend the ban’s enforcement period to facilitate a deal marks a shift from his stance in 2020 when he sought to ban TikTok over concerns that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, was sharing user data with Beijing. Trump now calls for a joint venture, proposing a 50% US ownership stake while guaranteeing that service providers would not face penalties for restoring TikTok.
Despite Trump’s assurances, the law mandating TikTok’s divestiture remains contentious. Republican lawmakers, including Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts, have criticised any attempt to circumvent the law, insisting that ByteDance sever all ties with China to meet the divestiture requirements. Meanwhile, TikTok’s ongoing connection to China continues to fuel tensions in US-China relations, with Beijing accusing Washington of unfairly targeting Chinese companies.
TikTok’s temporary return has reignited debates over its valuation, reportedly as high as $50 billion, and potential suitors, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and billionaire Elon Musk. While Beijing has reportedly discussed a possible sale, ByteDance denies such plans. Separately, US startup Perplexity AI has proposed merging with TikTok’s US operations to create a new entity.
The platform’s restoration signals its cultural and economic significance, but it also highlights the geopolitical complexities of its existence. Whether TikTok ultimately secures a deal or faces renewed legal battles, its journey reflects the growing and complicated intersection of technology, digital policies, cyber diplomacy, politics, and global commerce.