In a dramatic turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has mobilized efforts to save TikTok from being banned in the U.S. just in time for his inauguration festivities. The popular social media app became inaccessible to millions following a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting its operation due to alleged connections to the Chinese government.

In response to the app's blackout, Trump stated his intention to issue an executive order post-inauguration to extend the timeline for potential ownership changes for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. "I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law's prohibitions take effect, so we can make a deal to protect our national security," he indicated in a Truth Social post.

Mike Waltz, a close associate of Trump who is slated to become the national security adviser, revealed to CNN that the administration is exploring solutions to ensure the app can return to service while also safeguarding American users' data. Waltz's suggestion that TikTok could continue operations without a complete sale was unexpected, as he assured viewers, “We can do both. TikTok can continue to exist, and we can protect Americans from any type of foreign interference.”

Trump's ultimatum intends to allow a means of collaboration, possibly involving partial U.S. ownership of the platform. He portrayed TikTok as an enjoyable app for approximately 170 million Americans, warranting its survival in some form, even as its current operations hang in the balance. The resolution of the issue could see a joint venture established, where the U.S. would influence the platform’s management.

Tech giants Google and Apple had acted by removing TikTok from their app stores in compliance with a legal decision, effectively cutting off access for U.S. users. Despite these challenges, Trump urged companies not to comply fully with the ban, reinforcing his call to “SAVE TIKTOK!”

This ongoing situation is likely to develop further as the Trump administration settles into its new role, potentially impacting the future of TikTok in America. For continuous updates, refer to the original reports from Daily Beast.