After temporarily going offline in the US to comply with the divest-or-ban law targeting ByteDance, which took effect on January 19th, TikTok swiftly resumed operations—but remained unavailable on major app stores. Despite an executive order issued by Donald Trump on January 20th, directing the Attorney General to pause enforcement of the law for 75 days, the app’s listings were not immediately reinstated.
It wasn’t until February 13th that Google and Apple restored TikTok to the App Store and Google Play, allowing new downloads and updates. However, the TikTok ban law remains in effect, and uncertainty continues as lawmakers and industry leaders debate the platform’s future in the United States. With the temporary reprieve counting down, a long-term resolution is still up in the air.
Read on for all the latest news on the TikTok ban law in the US.
In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, President Donald Trump expressed he would consider extending TikTok’s June 19th ban deadline if ByteDance, the app’s China-based parent company, fails to finalize a deal to divest its US operations on time. The extension possibility comes after China withdrew from a potential agreement last month, following Trump’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports.
According to Semafor’s White House correspondent Shelby Talcott, President Trump seems inclined to simply delay the TikTok divestment deal rather than push for a quick resolution. Looks like the TikTok saga in the US is set to continue dragging on indefinitely.
Attorney General Pam Bondi officially sent a letter to Apple, directing the company to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order that extends ByteDance’s deadline to divest TikTok’s US operations by an additional 75 days, according to Bloomberg. Previously, Bloomberg reported a similar letter was sent to both Google and Apple ahead of their decision to restore TikTok to the App Store and Google Play in February.
Trump’s tariffs killed his TikTok deal
Earlier this week, with TikTok’s US fate seemingly set to be decided by April 5th, major players—from Amazon to the founder of OnlyFans—rushed forward expressing interest in buying the app. However, none of these potential buyers stood a real chance.
Now, due to President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff war with China, the possibility of anyone acquiring TikTok’s US operations looks increasingly uncertain, leaving the app’s future in the US more unclear than ever.
Trump’s TikTok delay is ‘against the law’ top Senate Intelligence Democrat says
President Donald Trump’s decision to delay TikTok’s sale-or-ban deadline by an additional 75 days has left major service providers like Apple, Google, and Oracle navigating uncertain ground. One prominent Democrat has called the extension “straight-up against the law.”
Following the announcement, 12 Republican members of the House Select Committee on China, led by Chair John Moolenaar (R-MI), issued a joint statement. While the statement did not raise legal objections to the extension, it emphasized that any resolution must comply with U.S. law and prevent the Chinese Communist Party from accessing American user data or influencing content consumed by US users. The lawmakers expressed anticipation for further details regarding the proposed TikTok deal.
Trump delays TikTok ban again
Donald Trump’s initial 75-day pause on enforcing the TikTok ban law was set to expire this weekend. However, on Friday, he announced via Truth Social that he is signing a new Executive Order to extend TikTok’s operation in the US for an additional 75 days.
This week also saw Trump impose new tariffs on imports, including a 34 percent tariff on Chinese goods. While he has indicated willingness to reduce the tariff if China agrees to a TikTok divestment deal, with the deadline approaching, Trump chose to extend the ban delay rather than risk another shutdown of the popular app.
‘TikTok America,’ Amazon, and other rumors about who might buy TikTok
After President Donald Trump delayed the TikTok ban deadline in January, the 75-day extension is set to expire on April 5th. Yet, there is still no confirmed agreement to satisfy the law by transferring control of TikTok away from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
According to The Information, Trump is expected to unveil plans for a new entity called “TikTok America” later today. This proposed company would be owned 50 percent by unnamed US investors, with existing ByteDance investors holding a one-third stake, and ByteDance retaining a 19.9 percent share. The deal reportedly includes licensing TikTok’s popular algorithm from ByteDance, aiming to address ongoing regulatory concerns.
Trump’s plans to save TikTok may fail to keep it online, Democrats warn
from going dark in the US after the April 5th deadline, warning that current plans could expose TikTok’s service providers to hundreds of billions of dollars in liability.
Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) oppose the TikTok ban, which Congress overwhelmingly approved last year. The law requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest the app by January 19th or face a ban. In a letter to Trump, the senators criticized the administration for ignoring the law’s requirements, stating that extending the divestment deadline to April 5th was “unacceptable and unworkable.”
Perplexity wants to buy TikTok and open-source its algorithm
According to a company blog post published Friday, the AI search startup Perplexity has announced its intention to acquire and revamp TikTok.
“Perplexity is uniquely positioned to rebuild TikTok’s algorithm without fostering a monopoly, leveraging world-class technical expertise alongside a commitment to Little Tech independence,” the company stated.
Oracle is reportedly in the lead in saving TikTok from the US ban.
Oracle is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to vouch for TikTok’s security in exchange for a small ownership stake in the app’s US operations, according to Bloomberg. The plan discussed recently within the Trump administration aims to provide guarantees that a revamped US version of TikTok would not include any backdoors exploitable by the Chinese government.
However, Bloomberg notes that the deal may still leave TikTok’s highly sensitive algorithm under the control of its China-based parent company, ByteDance. A source revealed that China is aware of the proposal and would only approve the arrangement if Chinese authorities fully control TikTok’s algorithm. Similarly, The Information reported last week that Oracle’s involvement could be key to saving TikTok from a potential ban in the US.
Akamai, a key content delivery provider for TikTok, revealed in a recent SEC filing—highlighted by reporter Matt Schettenhelm—that despite President Trump’s order to pause enforcement of the TikTok ban, the company could still face significant risks. These include potential liability exposure, such as substantial fines, financial losses, and other related harms for continuing to provide services to the Chinese-owned app.
TikTok isn’t out of the woods yet
I’m here at the summit, where I’ve never seen so many top streaming competitors sharing the stage at once. This week, I’m diving deep into the latest from TikTok, Google, and Meta. Plus, find out what Elon Musk truly aims to achieve with his bid for OpenAI—keep reading for all the inside details.
TikTok is back in the App Store
Nearly a month after being banned in the US, TikTok is back on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, available once again for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. This comeback follows a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi to Apple, assuring the company it won’t face fines for hosting the app, according to Bloomberg, which first reported TikTok’s return.
Earlier in January, both Apple and Google removed TikTok from their app stores to comply with a law targeting ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. Although President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20th directing the Department of Justice to delay enforcement of the ban for 75 days, Apple and Google initially refrained from restoring the app due to potential exposure to billions of dollars in penalties. Meanwhile, Trump has reportedly assigned Vice President JD Vance to lead negotiations for a possible sale of TikTok’s US operations.
How to get TikTok back on your phone if you deleted it after the ban
Apple and Google have officially restored TikTok to their app stores in the US, allowing users to download TikTok for iOS and TikTok for Android once again through their native platforms.
While the TikTok ban technically remains in effect, President Trump has issued an order instructing his administration not to enforce the ban for 75 days starting January 20th. This means Apple and Google could be required to remove TikTok again if enforcement resumes and TikTok fails to meet the necessary conditions to avoid a ban.
Vice President JD Vance, alongside National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, has been assigned to “quarterback a deal to save TikTok” before President Trump’s enforcement pause expires in April, according to Punchbowl News.
The Wall Street Journal confirms that Trump entrusted Vance with this critical task, relying on his venture capitalist background—even if considered reportedly unimpressive—to navigate the complex negotiations and secure a resolution.
TikTok has not only disappeared from Google TV and Apple’s tvOS app stores but, as Axios reports, major TV manufacturers like LG, Amazon, and Vizio have also removed the app from their platforms.
It’s understandable—offering a social video app primarily designed for smartphone screens on TV devices carries the risk of hundreds of billions in potential fines, making it a risky move for manufacturers amid the ongoing federal TikTok ban.
TikTok now offers its Android app for download outside of Google Play
TikTok has announced it’s now providing direct downloads of its Android app through its official website for users in the United States. This update gives Android users an easy way to download or update TikTok for the first time since it was removed from Google Play last month due to the ongoing US ban.
Both TikTok and TikTok Lite—a lighter version designed for slower internet connections—are available for download. Installing or updating is simple: just open the downloaded file and approve the installation. The process is quick; on a Pixel 6, updating took roughly the same time as downloading from Google Play.
President Trump signed an executive order today to establish a sovereign wealth fund within the next year. The aim is to empower the US to invest strategically in key technologies, including a potential purchase of TikTok, Reuters reports.
Trump has previously proposed that the US could own 50 percent of TikTok through a joint venture, signaling strong interest in maintaining national control over the popular social media app.
TikTok traffic is recovering, but it’s still not back in app stores
According to Cloudflare Radar data reviewed by CNBC, TikTok’s traffic is almost back to pre-ban levels despite its continued absence from US app stores. David Belson, Cloudflare’s head of data insight, reported that DNS traffic for TikTok-related domains is only about 10 percent below normal.
For context, TikTok’s traffic dropped by as much as 85 percent during its abrupt shutdown following the US divest-or-ban law. Although TikTok began returning online on January 19th, the app remains unavailable for download on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Marvel Snap is back on the Apple App Store, now listed as self-published by developer Second Dinner rather than ByteDance-owned Nuverse. This shift has allowed the popular card battler to avoid the TikTok ban and become available again for iPhone and iPad users, although the Google Play listing remains inactive.
The app was unavailable for only about a week, but iOS players can now download Marvel Snap on new devices and receive updates once again. Meanwhile, TikTok’s future in US app stores remains uncertain.
Oracle and Microsoft are reportedly in talks to take over TikTok
Oracle, along with a group of investors including Microsoft, is reportedly negotiating to take over TikTok’s global operations, according to NPR. Under the proposed deal, ByteDance would retain a minority stake, while Oracle would oversee TikTok’s algorithm, data collection, and software updates.
The White House is said to be involved in negotiating the arrangement, although President Trump has denied working directly with Oracle on the matter.
“I have spoken to many people about TikTok, and there is great interest in it,” Trump told Reuters on a flight to Florida on Saturday. However, he added that Oracle was not among those he had spoken with.
Marvel Snap is coming back to app stores soon, says developer
Developer Second Dinner announced that Marvel Snap is beginning its return to app stores, kicking off with Google Play. The process to restore the game on Google’s Android app store started yesterday at 6 PM PT / 3 PM ET, with expectations to reappear on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store “as early as next week,” according to a follow-up post from the developer.
The recent TikTok outage temporarily impacted Marvel Snap due to its original publisher, Nuverse, being owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. The game became available again for players on Monday. Second Dinner has stated plans to “bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher” to avoid future disruptions. Currently, Marvel Snap is still “provided, operated, and managed by Nuverse,” as noted in the game’s privacy policy.
TikTok still isn’t in the App Store
Nearly a week after being pulled, TikTok is still missing from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app was removed following the US ban-or-divest law that took effect last weekend, which caused TikTok’s service to go dark across the United States.
Although TikTok resumed online activity shortly after the ban, it has yet to return to either mobile app store. Apple and Google face potential fines totaling billions of dollars if they make TikTok available again. It remains unclear whether President Donald Trump’s executive order delaying enforcement of the ban eliminates this financial risk.
Frequently Asked Question
Why was TikTok banned in the US?
TikTok was banned due to national security concerns over its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and fears that the Chinese government could access user data.
When did the TikTok ban in the US officially begin?
The ban-or-divest law targeting TikTok’s US operations took effect on January 19th, 2024, and the app was removed from US app stores.
Is TikTok still completely banned in the US?
No, TikTok’s service briefly went dark but has since returned online. However, the app remains unavailable for download or update in US app stores due to ongoing legal and regulatory issues.
Why hasn’t TikTok returned to Apple’s and Google’s app stores?
Apple and Google risk billions of dollars in fines if they restore TikTok without resolving security concerns, and the US government has yet to finalize terms for its safe return.
What is the 75-day enforcement delay ordered by President Trump?
President Trump issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of the TikTok ban by 75 days starting January 20th, giving time to negotiate a deal or divestiture.
Who is involved in the negotiations to save TikTok in the US?
US government officials, including Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, alongside companies like Oracle and Microsoft, are negotiating a deal for TikTok’s US operations.
Could TikTok be sold to a US-based company?
Yes, there are ongoing talks for a potential sale or restructuring of TikTok’s US business, possibly involving Oracle and other US investors to ensure data security and compliance.
Conclusion
The TikTok ban in the US remains a complex and evolving issue, blending national security concerns with the realities of a massively popular social platform. While the app faced removal from major app stores and a shutdown in the US following the January 19th ban-or-divest law, recent developments—including President Trump’s enforcement delays and ongoing negotiations with US companies like Oracle—offer a possible path to TikTok’s comeback. However, significant legal and regulatory hurdles still stand in the way, leaving the future of TikTok in the US uncertain. Users and industry watchers alike should stay tuned as new updates emerge on this high-stakes digital showdown.