WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump said he would restore the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok in the US through an executive order after his inauguration on Monday. However, he insisted that the app be at least 50 percent owned by US investors to ensure its continued operation in the country.
TikTok ceased operations in the United States late Saturday and was removed from both Apple and Google app stores. This action preceded the implementation of a law, effective Sunday, mandating the platform’s shutdown. The app is widely used by 170 million Americans.
In a notice to users, TikTok referenced a statement by Trump, who had previously indicated he would “most likely” grant a 90-day reprieve from the ban after assuming office on Monday.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. 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,” the message notified users trying to use the app late on Saturday night.
“I would like the United States to have a 50 percent ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up,” he wrote on his own social media platform Truth Social.
The United States has never banned a major social media platform. The law, passed with overwhelming support in Congress, grants the incoming Trump administration broad authority to ban or mandate the sale of other Chinese-owned apps.
As of late Saturday, other ByteDance-owned apps, including the video editing app CapCut and the lifestyle social app Lemon8, were also offline and no longer available in U.S. app stores.
TikTok warned on Friday it would go dark in the US on Sunday unless President Joe Biden’s administration provided assurances to companies such as Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement actions when a ban takes effect.
Under a law passed last year and unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday, the platform was required to either sever ties with its China-based parent company or cease its U.S. operations by Sunday to address concerns about its potential threat to national security.
White House has reiterated that it was up to the incoming administration to take action.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
The Chinese embassy in Washington on Friday accused the US of using unfair state power to suppress TikTok. “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” a spokesperson said.
