President Donald Trump’s Return to The White House Breathes New Life In TikTok

President Donald Trump has done it again. TikTok started restoring its services in the United States after Trump declared “We need to save TikTok” on Sunday before the inauguration. 

Background: The TikTok Ban

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faced mounting scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over data privacy and national security concerns. In April 2024, Congress and Senate, both houses passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) which was then signed by President Joe Biden.

It mandated ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations and sell the company to an American corporation by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban in the U.S. The main aim of the legislation was to prevent potential data misuse by foreign adversaries and prevent “China Spying on American Citizens”. However, it was Trump who first proposed the TikTok ban in 2020 and now he is being held as a savior.

Trump's Intervention and Musk’s Reaction

Upon his inauguration on January 20, 2025, which was attended by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, along with several other tech billionaires, President Donald Trump issued an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day reprieve from the ban. It went against the US Supreme Court which upheld the ban and allowed time to negotiate solutions to address security concerns without forcing the sale of TikTok.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO and head of the DOGE of the incoming Trump administration, Elon Musk wrote on X, “I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time because it goes against freedom of speech.”

I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time, because it goes against freedom of speech. 

That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but 𝕏 is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced. 

Something needs to change. https://t.co/YVu2hkZEVZ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 19, 2025

Restoration of Services

Before the executive order, TikTok had ceased operations in the U.S., leaving its 170 million American users without access. Following President Donald Trump's intervention, the app began restoring services. Users were rejoicing the return of TikTok by making memes and funny videos about the short duration of the ban. 

Besides that, Google, Oracle, and other companies were assured that they would not be held accountable and would not face legal repercussions for hosting the platform during the brief ban. TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed gratitude for the administration's support and attended the inauguration as a gesture of goodwill.

A statement was issued from Tik Tok which read, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. 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.

It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”

Proposed Joint Ownership

As per Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor, Trump can still exercise his power and decide on the social media app’s ban by considering if it constitutes a “qualified divestiture”. Hence, President Trump has tabled a proposal for a 50% ownership stake in TikTok. The joint venture is seen as a possible solution against the potential foreign influence from China but some GOP senators are still adamant on full divestment of TikTok by ByteDance.

Implications for U.S.-China Relations

President Trump's help in TikTok's return highlights a nuanced approach to U.S.-China relations, which is quite a turn from his aggressive behavior toward China as the 45th POTUS. One of the reasons cited for this approach is Trump’s popularity among youth on TikTok which was informed to him by his youngest son, Barron Trump.

Future Outlook

During the 75-day extension, ByteDance and its potential U.S. partners need to work out an agreement that balances security requirements with business interests. It will forge a new path in the future of how foreign-owned tech companies navigate operations in the U.S. while meeting national security standards.

Also Read:

• Ramaswamy Eyes Ohio Governorship, Plans Departure From DOGE
• From Politics To Crypto: Trump's $TRUMP Coin Makes Waves
• Trump's Inauguration To Feature Performances By Carrie Underwood, Village People, And Lee Greenwood