In a dramatic turn of events, TikTok has restored its service for users in the United States just hours after going offline in compliance with a federal law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership. President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order aimed at providing clarity and an extended timeline to negotiate a solution that would keep TikTok operational in the country. As of now, 170 million American users can access the app again, following a brief hiatus that left them unable to connect to the popular platform. During this interruption, users were met with messages indicating the app was unavailable due to the enforcement of a ban which went into effect on January 19, 2025.

According to South China Morning Post, Trump has expressed intentions to allow a joint venture agreement in which the United States would hold a 50 percent stake in TikTok. His approach reflects a significant change from his prior position, in which he had sought to ban the app over national security concerns, claiming the Chinese government could exploit user data.

After the Trump campaign's assurances to technology providers that they would not face penalties for supporting TikTok, Oracle, which handles data storage for TikTok's U.S. users, resumed its services, while Apple and Google maintained compliance with the upholding of the federal divestment law. As a result, users who had previously downloaded TikTok can access the application; however, it remains unavailable for new downloads from both the Apple and Google Play stores.

Despite these developments, the legal landscape surrounding TikTok's future remains precarious. The law, aimed at severing ties between TikTok and its Chinese ownership, calls for the app to be sold or face a comprehensive ban. Trump is expected to leverage his executive power to delay any punitive actions while facilitating negotiations with potential buyers.

In a statement released shortly after access was restored, TikTok thanked Trump, emphasizing his role in safeguarding the app’s presence in the U.S. market: "We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” TikTok stated.

While the app's survival is cheered by fans and advocates, Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts have voiced concerns about the legality of Trump’s expected actions. "Now that the law has taken effect, there’s no legal basis for any kind of 'extension' of its effective date," they wrote. Analysts and lawmakers have suggested that TikTok's long-term viability will depend not only on Trump's executive orders but on ByteDance's willingness to negotiate a sale that complies with U.S. regulations.

As those in the tech sector, including industry giants like Oracle, look to maintain their interests, TikTok's future remains tightly intertwined with ongoing political maneuvering and discussions around privacy and security. The situation, marked by its fluctuations and uncertainties, will likely continue to evolve as the new administration navigates its policy direction regarding foreign-owned technology.

For further details on Trump's involvement with TikTok, visit AP News.