TikTok is now accessible on the US app stores of Apple and Google following President Donald Trump’s decision to delay the ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform until 5 April.
The app, popular among over 170 million American users, briefly went offline last month in anticipation of the ban deadline.
President Trump then signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law requiring the app’s sale if not already done.
TikTok did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment from BBC News.
According to Bloomberg, which first reported TikTok’s reappearance on the US app stores, the decision to reinstate its availability came after Apple and Google received assurances from the Trump administration that they would not face liability for allowing downloads, and the ban would not be enforced at that time.
The ban, passed with bipartisan support in Congress, was signed into law by former President Joe Biden. It mandated ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to sell the US version of the platform to a neutral party to prevent a complete ban.
The Biden administration contended that TikTok could be exploited by China for espionage and political influence.
Both China and TikTok have consistently refuted these allegations. Beijing has also previously dismissed calls for the sale of TikTok’s US operations.
The legislation banning the app had bipartisan backing from US lawmakers and was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court.
President Trump initially supported banning the app during his first term but seemed to have a change of heart last year amidst the presidential race.
He expressed a fondness for the app, highlighting the significant number of views his videos garnered on the platform during the previous year’s presidential campaign.
Upon the app’s restoration in the US last month, a popup message was sent to its millions of users that thanked Trump by name.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago following his electoral victory in November and later attended his inauguration ceremony.
Trump expressed a desire to reach a compromise with the Chinese company that aligns with the spirit rather than the letter of the law, suggesting the possibility of joint ownership of TikTok.
«My idea is to propose selling it to someone, giving half to the US, and we’ll grant you a permit,» he recently stated during a news conference on artificial intelligence.
He also mentioned his willingness to sell the app to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and billionaire Elon Musk, who heads the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Other names previously associated with purchasing TikTok include billionaire Frank McCourt and Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary – a well-known investor on Shark Tank, the US equivalent of Dragon’s Den.
The world’s biggest YouTuber, Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, has stated his interest after several investors reached out to him following his social media post expressing interest.