TikTok Shuts Down in U.S., Trump Promises Action to Restore Access

TikTok has disconnected access for U.S. users, just hours before a national ban on the popular video-sharing platform was set to take effect. In a message to users, the app explained, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The note reassured users that President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to work on a solution once he takes office, promising, “Please stay tuned!”

The sudden shutdown follows a dramatic ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, which upheld a law aimed at banning TikTok due to national security concerns. The law mandates that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, must either sell the app to non-Chinese owners or face the platform’s removal by Sunday. Without a deal in place, TikTok would be blocked from U.S. users.

For millions, TikTok’s ability to turn ordinary users into viral stars has made it an essential part of daily life. From teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, the app has captivated users across generations. President Trump, who has credited TikTok with helping him connect with younger voters during his 2024 election campaign, is now looking to potentially delay the ban.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at,” Trump said in an NBC News interview Saturday. “The 90-day extension will most likely be done because it’s appropriate.” He indicated that he could announce this decision as soon as his inauguration on Monday.

The law does allow for a 90-day reprieve if the White House can demonstrate progress toward a viable deal, but ByteDance has so far rejected any plans to sell the app. In response to the court’s ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution,” expressing confidence that the president understands the platform’s value. Chew will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

Also Read: Trump Seeks Supreme Court Delay on TikTok Ban to Pursue Political Solution

Meanwhile, TikTok’s shutdown is set to have widespread implications. The law requires tech giants Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores, effectively halting new downloads, with hefty penalties looming for any violations. Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, will also be required to enforce the ban.

In an eleventh-hour move, startup Perplexity AI proposed a potential merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations. The deal, which would combine the assets of TikTok U.S. and Perplexity AI (backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos), could offer ByteDance a workaround without the need for a full sale. The value of the deal is estimated at $50 billion, though no price has been disclosed. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has also expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations for $20 billion, in partnership with Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary.

Despite these efforts, experts warn that the legal landscape is murky. The law mandating TikTok’s removal was specifically designed to withstand presidential intervention, raising questions about whether a potential executive order from Trump could override it. As Cornell University professor Sarah Kreps notes, “If an executive order conflicts with an existing law, the law takes precedence, and the order can be struck down by the courts.”

With TikTok’s U.S. presence now effectively suspended, rivals such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts stand to gain users, while TikTok enthusiasts are turning to alternative platforms like Xiaohongshu (“Little Red Book”), a Chinese social media app that surged to the top of the U.S. App Store rankings this week.