Overview

• TikTok was briefly banned in the U.S. on January 19, 2025, following a Supreme Court decision upholding a law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations.
• Donald Trump, who previously advocated for banning TikTok over national security concerns, announced a temporary 90-day reprieve before his inauguration.
• The suspension allows time to negotiate a new ownership structure, with Trump suggesting a 50% American-controlled entity as a potential solution.
• TikTok, which boasts 170 million U.S. users, restored access within hours after the announcement, alleviating widespread frustration among its user base.
• Trump's decision marks a notable shift in his stance on the app, positioning him as a potential mediator in the ongoing conflict over data security and ownership.