TikTok Returns to US App Stores After Trump Grants Ban Extension

TikTok is once again available for download in the United States after former President Donald Trump granted a 75-day extension on enforcing a law that would ban the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells its US operations.

The popular video-sharing platform, which boasts over 170 million American users, briefly disappeared from Apple and Google’s app stores last month as a previous ban deadline approached. However, following Trump’s executive order delaying enforcement until April 5, the app was reinstated after assurances were given that tech companies would not face liability for allowing downloads.

Legislative Battle Over TikTok’s Future

The legislation to ban TikTok was originally signed into law by former President Joe Biden, receiving bipartisan support in Congress. The US government has long expressed concerns that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government for espionage and political influence—claims that both ByteDance and Beijing have strongly denied.

Despite initially supporting a ban, Trump changed his stance during his presidential campaign, acknowledging the platform’s impact. He even expressed a “warm spot” for TikTok, citing the billions of views his campaign videos garnered. When TikTok resumed operations in the US, users received a pop-up message on the app thanking Trump by name.

TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew reportedly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after the election and later attended his inauguration, fueling speculation about a potential resolution.

Potential Buyers and Future Uncertainty

Trump has suggested a joint ownership model, in which a buyer could take over TikTok and “give half to the US” in exchange for a permit to operate. Several high-profile investors have been linked to a possible takeover of TikTok’s US operations, including:

• Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle
• Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
• Frank McCourt, billionaire investor
• Kevin O’Leary, Canadian businessman and Shark Tank star
• Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast), YouTube’s biggest creator, who recently claimed that investors approached him after he expressed interest in acquiring the app

With the April 5 deadline now in place, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining TikTok’s long-term future in the US. Whether ByteDance agrees to a sale, a compromise is reached, or the ban is enforced, remains to be seen.

For now, TikTok users in the US can continue creating, scrolling, and engaging, as the legal and political battle over the app’s fate unfolds.