Sun Jan 19 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## TikTok Shuts Down in US Ahead of Nationwide Ban, Trump Hints at Reprieve

**Washington, D.C.** – TikTok abruptly ceased operations in the United States late Saturday night, just minutes before a nationwide ban was set to take effect. The move came hours after President-elect Donald Trump indicated he would “most likely” allow the popular social media app to return to the U.S. market upon assuming office on Monday.

The ban, enacted last year, stemmed from national security and data privacy concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership (ByteDance). The Supreme Court upheld the law earlier this month, rejecting TikTok’s First Amendment challenge. The legislation mandates the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company or a complete ban.

Despite the Biden administration’s earlier statements expressing a preference for TikTok to remain available under American ownership, it ultimately did not intervene to prevent the ban’s implementation.

President-elect Trump, who has publicly expressed support for keeping TikTok in the U.S., stated he would “probably” announce a 90-day extension of the ban on Monday. While this wouldn’t overturn the law, it could offer a temporary reprieve for the platform, allowing time for negotiations regarding a sale to a U.S. entity. Several American companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle, have previously expressed interest in acquiring TikTok.

The sudden shutdown left millions of American users unable to access the platform. While TikTok indicated users could still download their data, concerns remain about the potential transfer of user information to China if the ban remains in place. The platform itself has stated it has never shared data with the Chinese government, a claim backed by its routing 100% of U.S. traffic to Oracle and U.S. Digital Service infrastructure in the United States.

The situation remains fluid, with the President-elect’s decision on the 90-day extension expected imminently. The outcome will significantly impact the future of TikTok in the United States and the ongoing debate over national security concerns surrounding Chinese-owned technology companies.

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