TikTok banned: Wildly addictive app goes dark as fans mourn. Will Trump save it?
USA TodayJAN 28
TikTok Restores US Access After Trump's Assurance
Above: A smartphone displays the TikTok app in Chicago after its reinstatement in the US on Jan. 19, 2025. Image copyright: Jacek Boczarski/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump's reversal on TikTok — from calling for its ban in 2020 to positioning himself as now saving the platform — is driven by basic political calculations. After amassing 14.8M followers and crediting TikTok for much of his support from young voters, Trump's latest pledge contrasts sharply with his earlier warnings about national security risks. The current drama — complete with TikTok's conveniently timed shutdown and praise for Trump — is orchestrated political theater.
Republican narrative
Trump has several promising options for resolving this issue. He could instruct the Justice Department to deprioritize enforcement, implement the 90-day pause while ByteDance works on divestment, declare TikTok compliant with the law, or work toward a joint venture giving US investors 50% control. While none of this is easy, Trump's dealmaking experience and stated commitment to "save TikTok" suggest he'll move swiftly to protect TikTok's 170M US users.
Narrative C
Promises aside, Donald Trump's options to save TikTok are severely limited by law. The legislation only permits a 90-day extension if ByteDance shows concrete evidence of divestiture progress — promises alone won't suffice. As Speaker Johnson and key senators emphasize, the platform must be sold to US owners to operate legally. Any attempt to circumvent these requirements could face legal challenges and expose companies to billions in liability.