The popular short-video platform expressed its gratitude to the president-elect for facilitating its return and pledged to collaborate on a strategy to ensure its long-term presence in the country.

Access to TikTok, which had been restricted due to the enforcement of a law citing national security concerns, was restored this Sunday thanks to the intervention of President-elect Donald Trump. The suspension, which began Saturday night, had caused uncertainty among the millions of users and businesses relying on the platform.

In a statement issued the same day, TikTok expressed its appreciation to the president for providing clarity to service providers. “We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurances to our service providers, ensuring they won’t face penalties for offering TikTok to over 170 million Americans and helping more than 7 million small businesses thrive,” the company said. It also described the action as “a strong endorsement of the First Amendment and a rejection of arbitrary censorship.”

A Dispute Shaped by Law and Politics
The controversy began last spring when Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, within 270 days. Failure to comply with this condition would result in the app being banned in the country. Instead of agreeing to the terms, TikTok filed a legal challenge, arguing that the law violated the First Amendment of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court, after reviewing the case, ruled that national security concerns were valid, particularly over the potential manipulation of content or the collection of user data by the Chinese government. This decision left TikTok in a vulnerable position, leading to the temporary suspension of its services on Saturday night.

Trump’s Intervention
Following the suspension, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to call on service providers: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok shut down.” On Sunday morning, the president-elect announced that he would sign an executive order the following day, upon taking office, to delay the enforcement of the law. According to Trump, this measure would ensure that companies keeping TikTok operational wouldn’t face legal repercussions before his order took effect.

He also proposed the creation of a joint venture between new investors and TikTok’s current owners, with the U.S. government potentially holding a 50% stake in the company. This initiative aimed to secure operational transparency and control within the country.

Messages on TikTok and Political Tensions
Users who accessed the app on Sunday were greeted with a message stating: “Welcome back! Thank you for your patience and support. Thanks to President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the United States.” This gesture highlighted the platform’s commitment to its community of users and businesses.

However, the issue sparked tensions between the Biden and Trump administrations. A member of the outgoing administration remarked that TikTok was unfairly blaming them for the suspension: “They’ve had a year to resolve this, and we made it clear that we wouldn’t enforce the ban on our last day.” Meanwhile, the White House emphasized that any service interruption was a decision made by the company, not the government.

TikTok’s Uncertain Future
Although TikTok managed to restore its services, its future in the United States remains uncertain. Concerns about data security and foreign influence have not been fully addressed, and Trump’s proposal for a joint venture may face regulatory hurdles.

The resolution of this situation will impact not only the millions of users and small businesses relying on TikTok but also the broader U.S.-China relations, setting a significant precedent in the digital and political landscape.