Topline
President Donald Trump directed the federal government on Monday to temporarily suspend enforcement of the nationwide TikTok ban for 75 days. This extension was granted to allow ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based owner, more time to sell a stake in the platform or reach a deal with Trump. This development followed a tumultuous weekend during which TikTok went offline in the U.S. for over 12 hours before Trump pledged to take action.
Timeline
January 21, 2:30 a.m. EST: After signing the executive order, Trump told reporters the U.S. is entitled to 50% of TikTok’s ownership and warned China against obstructing any deal, threatening tariffs of up to 100%.
January 20, 8:20 p.m. EST: Trump signed an executive order delaying the TikTok ban by 75 days to evaluate the appropriate course of action. He also proposed that ByteDance form a joint venture with at least 50% U.S. ownership. The ban’s extension could last up to 90 days.
January 20, 11:40 a.m. EST: TikTok CEO Chew attended Trump’s inauguration, arriving with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Joe Rogan.
January 20, 10:16 a.m. EST: Senator Kevin Cramer questioned the legality of Trump’s executive order delaying the ban, despite bipartisan support and a Supreme Court ruling upholding the ban.
January 19, 5:30 p.m. EST: At a “victory rally” in D.C., Trump announced TikTok was operational again and suggested the U.S. would own 50% of the platform as part of a joint venture.
January 19, 4:10 p.m. EST: A 19-year-old was arrested for allegedly setting fire to a building housing Representative Glenn Grothman’s office, reportedly motivated by the TikTok ban. No injuries were reported.
January 19, 1:50 p.m. EST: TikTok resumed service for many U.S. users, displaying a pop-up message: “Welcome back! As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.” The app was still unavailable on Apple’s App Store.
January 19, 1:00 p.m. EST: Some TikTok users reported the app was operational again after over 12 hours of downtime.
January 19, 12:30 p.m. EST: TikTok tweeted that it was restoring service, thanking Trump for clarifying that service providers would face no penalties and pledging to work on a long-term solution to keep TikTok in the U.S.
January 19, 10:00 a.m. EST: Trump announced plans to delay the ban and advocated for transferring TikTok to a joint venture with U.S. ownership. He assured tech firms they would face no liability for supporting TikTok before the ban was lifted.
January 19, 7:03 a.m. EST: Trump posted “SAVE TIKTOK” on Truth Social.
January 19, 12:00 a.m. EST: The nationwide TikTok ban officially took effect, barring internet service providers and app stores from offering the platform.
January 18, 11:00 p.m. EST: TikTok went offline in the U.S., displaying a message about the law banning the app, while noting Trump’s willingness to work on a solution.
January 18, 12:30 p.m. EST: Trump indicated he would likely extend the ban for 90 days, with an announcement expected Monday.
January 17: TikTok warned it would “go dark” on January 19 unless the Biden administration assured service providers they would not face penalties.
January 16: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged lawmakers to extend the deadline to find an American buyer, emphasizing data privacy concerns.
January 13: Reports suggested Chinese officials considered selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to Elon Musk, though ByteDance denied these claims.
January 10: The Supreme Court heard arguments on the law requiring TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company or face a ban, appearing inclined to uphold the law.
Key Questions
When Did the TikTok Ban Take Effect? The ban became effective on Sunday, January 19, but TikTok restored service 12 hours later after Trump promised to delay enforcement.
Is TikTok Back? When Will It Be Fully Restored? Yes, TikTok is operational again as of January 19, though it remains unavailable on the iPhone App Store. Existing users can retain the app, but no updates will be available, potentially affecting performance and security.
Can Trump Stop TikTok From Being Banned? Trump can delay the ban temporarily. He announced a 90-day extension to finalize a deal transferring TikTok to a joint venture with U.S. ownership. If no deal is reached, the future remains uncertain.
Did Biden Intervene to Stop the Ban? No, the Biden administration stated the law’s implementation would be handled by the next administration.
Can I Use a VPN for TikTok? Most likely not, as many U.S. users reported VPNs were ineffective.
What Happens to My TikTok Data? TikTok users could download their data before the app’s temporary shutdown. If banned, U.S. data may be moved to China, as seen in similar cases.
Why Was TikTok Banned? Concerns over national security and data privacy linked to ByteDance prompted Congress to pass the ban. Officials fear potential misuse of data by the Chinese government. ByteDance has denied such claims and implemented measures to protect U.S. user data.
What U.S. Company Could Buy TikTok? Potential buyers include Project Liberty, Amazon, Oracle, and Microsoft, though China’s approval is required for any sale. Elon Musk has also been mentioned as a potential buyer.
Can ByteDance Sell TikTok? ByteDance has argued that a sale would be complicated due to its deep integration with TikTok, making a complete divestiture challenging.
