Mon Jan 20 03:16:26 UTC 2025: ## TikTok Back Online in US After Trump Intervenes
**Washington D.C.** – TikTok resumed operations in the United States on Sunday following a last-minute intervention by incoming President Donald Trump. The app, which had been forced offline due to a Biden administration ban citing national security concerns, was restored after Trump announced plans to issue an executive order upon taking office.
Trump stated he would delay enforcement of the ban for 90 days to negotiate a deal that protects US national security, ideally involving a 50% US ownership stake in a joint venture. He also promised to grant immunity from liability to any company assisting in restoring TikTok’s service before the executive order takes effect.
TikTok thanked Trump for his intervention, stating his actions provided “necessary clarity and assurance” to service providers, allowing the app to resume service for its over 170 million American users and 7 million small businesses. The company described Trump’s actions as a “strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”
Trump’s move marks a dramatic shift from his previous attempts to ban TikTok during his first term, citing concerns about data sharing with the Chinese government. However, he has recently expressed a more favorable view of the app, even suggesting it helped him win over younger voters.
The Biden administration’s ban stemmed from worries about potential misuse of American user data by ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. While Trump’s intervention temporarily halts the ban, the future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, pending the outcome of negotiations over the proposed joint venture.
First Piper 