TikTok is back for US users after Trump says he'll save it via 'joint venture'

TikTok is restoring its services in the U.S. after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump made public his intention to save the platform.

A day before his inauguration, Trump told his supporters at a rally that he would bring TikTok back via a "joint venture".

On another social media platform, Truth Social, Trump also said that he will issue an executive order to extend the time for a deal to be made between TikTok and the U.S..

He proposed a joint venture where the U.S. will be given 50 per cent of ownership.

Here's his full post:

I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.

Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.

I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to [stay] up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars - maybe trillions.

Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose.

TikTok also released a statement on Jan. 20 (Singapore time):

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.

It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."

Ban reversed

Trump proposed banning TikTok during his first presidential term in 2020.

After taking office, President Joe Biden said he would sign a bill that banned TikTok if it was passed by Congress.

A bipartisan bill to ban TikTok if its parent company ByteDance, based in Beijing, China, did not sell the app to owners acceptable to the U.S. government passed in the House of Representatives, and then the Senate in 2024.

Biden signed the bill in May 2024.

TikTok then sued the U.S. government over the ban, but the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law in a rare unanimous decision.

However, Trump appeared to have a change of heart over TikTok, saying in Dec. 2024 after his election victory that the app helped his popularity with youth voters.

TikTok's CEO, Singaporean Chew Shou Zi, is set to attend his inauguration ceremony.

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Top photos from Donald Trump/Facebook and Unsplash