TikTok users in the United States were disconnected from the platform late Saturday, shortly before a national ban came into effect. The ban follows a contentious legal battle that culminated in the US Supreme Court upholding the decision on Friday, citing national security concerns.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US,” the platform announced in a message to users attempting to log in. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
President-elect Donald Trump, an avid user of the app, hinted at the possibility of a 90-day reprieve to find a resolution after his inauguration on Monday.
“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC News. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
Trump, who has credited TikTok with connecting him to younger voters and aiding his November election victory, discussed the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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The law requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to non-Chinese buyers or face removal from Apple and Google app stores. ByteDance has refused to sell outright, complicating efforts to keep the app operational in the US.
Following the court ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Chew appealed to Trump, thanking him for his willingness to work on a solution. “President Trump truly understands our platform,” Chew said, adding that he would attend Trump’s inauguration.
The Biden administration, meanwhile, has deferred the matter to Trump, with White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre dismissing TikTok’s latest statements as a “stunt.”
As the deadline loomed, new proposals emerged, including a potential merger with Perplexity AI, a US-based start-up backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The deal, reportedly valued at $50 billion, would create a joint venture combining TikTok’s US assets with Perplexity AI.
Separately, former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt expressed interest in purchasing TikTok’s US operations. Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, involved in McCourt’s bid, revealed a $20 billion offer but acknowledged the legal uncertainty surrounding the ban.
“Congress wrote this law to be virtually president-proof,” warned Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the industry group Chamber of Progress. Legal experts, including Cornell professor Sarah Kreps, underscored that “if an executive order conflicts with an existing law, the law takes precedence, and the order can be struck down by the courts.”
As TikTok users face uncertainty, US-based rivals Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts stand to gain. Meanwhile, thousands of users have flocked to Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), a Chinese app similar to Instagram, which became the most downloaded app on the US Apple Store this week.
With TikTok forced into shutdown, the path forward remains uncertain, but Trump’s promise of a potential resolution offers a glimmer of hope to millions of American users.
