TikTok is resuming service in the United States

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would resume normal operations of the short video platform TikTok in the United States on the first Monday after he officially took office. Earlier, TikTok announced on Sunday that it would gradually resume services. At a rally before the inauguration, Trump said that the United States would restart the popular app with about 170 million American users by forming a joint venture. TikTok also sent a message to users saying: "Thanks to the efforts of President Trump, TikTok is back in the United States."

First, early on Sunday, some American users found that they could access content through TikTok's official website, and some functions have been gradually restored, but the app still provides limited services. On the same day, the company issued a statement saying: "We are resuming operations after reaching an agreement with service providers." Despite this, as of the evening of the same day, TikTok had not yet been re-listed on major U.S. app store download channels. In the statement, TikTok thanked the Trump administration for its support and protection of service providers, which saved them from facing penalties for providing services to 170 million American users. In addition, the statement pointed out that the normal operation of TikTok is essential to supporting the growth of more than 7 million small businesses.

Second, on the eve of Trump's inauguration, TikTok publicly expressed its gratitude for his efforts. At this time, the relationship between the United States and China is at a sensitive period. Although Trump has emphasized taking tough measures against China, including imposing tariffs, he has also expressed his hope to resolve differences through more direct dialogue. Under the previous legal framework, the United States launched a ban on TikTok on Sunday, citing concerns that ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) might abuse American user data. Trump announced that he would delay the ban to buy more time to discuss solutions and ensure that national security can be guaranteed.

However, Trump's change in attitude towards TikTok is worth noting. As early as 2020, he planned to ban the app completely due to concerns about the security of user data. However, he recently praised TikTok, especially its role in winning the support of young voters. Trump mentioned that the app helped him attract more young voters in the 2024 election. Looking back at 2020, Trump signed an executive order requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok within 90 days. However, the final agreement was a cooperation instead of divestiture, with Oracle and Walmart becoming one of the shareholders of the new entity. However, Trump's change of position did not receive unanimous support within the Republican Party. Some party insiders believe that the law has come into effect, and there is no legal basis for circumventing the law to "save TikTok". Some Republican senators even suggested that only by completely cutting off TikTok's ties with China can it resume legal operations in the United States.

In addition, multiple bidders, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, have shown interest in TikTok's US business. Some media reported that ByteDance had negotiated with Tesla CEO Elon Musk on a sale, but this news was denied by TikTok. At the same time, PerplexityAI, a US search engine startup, submitted a bid, planning to merge with TikTok's US business and form a new company with other partners. ByteDance's shareholder structure has also attracted attention. Currently, about 60% of its shares are held by institutional investors, and the rest are shared by founders and employees.

Finally, the United States has never banned any major social media platform before. However, due to a bill passed by Congress, the Trump administration has broad powers to take similar measures against other applications owned by Chinese companies. On Saturday evening, other TikTok apps, such as CapCut and Lemon8, were also removed from the US app store. Neither Apple nor Google commented on the matter. After the ban came into effect, the number of searches for VPNs by US users soared, showing the public's strong demand for continued access to TikTok.

In summary, Trump's change in attitude towards TikTok reflects the delicate balance between political and commercial interests. As TikTok gradually resumes service, whether the United States can accept this app while ensuring national security will become an important window for observing Sino-US relations and technology regulation in the future.