Mon Jan 20 20:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Reinstates TikTok, Defying Critics and Courts

**Washington, D.C. –** In a dramatic eleventh-hour reversal, President-elect Donald Trump has effectively overturned a nationwide ban on TikTok, just hours before it was set to take effect. The app, which was shut down late Saturday night, became accessible again to many American users by Sunday afternoon.

This action comes after Trump announced Sunday that he would issue an executive order delaying the ban, allowing for negotiations on a deal that would see a US-based joint venture take a 50% stake in the Chinese-owned company, ByteDance. He declared that TikTok is “back” and that the US “has to save it.”

The decision has sparked immediate controversy. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned the legality of the move, citing concerns about separation of powers. The ban, initially passed with bipartisan support and upheld by the Supreme Court, was based on national security concerns about potential Chinese government access to user data.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew attended Trump’s inauguration Monday morning, along with Apple CEO Tim Cook and commentator Joe Rogan. Chew’s presence underscores the significant impact of Trump’s decision on the tech industry.

Trump’s announcement followed a weekend of escalating tension. A 19-year-old was arrested for allegedly setting fire to a building housing the office of a Republican congressman, citing the TikTok ban as his motive. Meanwhile, Senator Tom Cotton warned of potential “ruinous liability” for companies facilitating TikTok’s operation.

While TikTok is partially operational, its future remains uncertain. The app is still unavailable on the Apple App Store, and the 90-day extension offered by Trump only applies if ByteDance makes demonstrable progress towards a sale. The long-term implications of this last-minute intervention and its legal ramifications remain to be seen. Experts are divided on Trump’s ability to permanently overturn the ban beyond the 90-day period.

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