Donald Trump, who officially assumes the presidency today, announced that he would lift the ban on TikTok through an executive order. Following his commitment, TikTok has resumed operations in the US, as reported by the British news channel BBC.
TikTok, which went offline on January 19, came back online after Trump’s assurance.
The platform had gone offline on Saturday as the legal deadline approached, requiring TikTok to either sell to an American company or cease operations in the US.
The law, enacted on April 24, 2024, had set January 19, the final day of Biden’s term, as the deadline for its implementation. According to the BBC, TikTok has 170 million users in the US.
After Trump pledged to lift the ban, TikTok issued a statement thanking him for providing “clarity and commitment” regarding the platform’s long-term operation.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has also been invited to Trump’s inauguration ceremony today. Trump revealed that the TikTok issue was discussed during a phone call with the Chinese President on Friday.
