TikTok Shuts Down in U.S. Ahead of Ban
In a dramatic turn of events, TikTok went offline in the United States on Saturday night, just hours before a ban was set to take effect. This sudden shutdown left millions of Americans, who had used the app as a social media staple, unable to access their feeds.
Users who attempted to open the app on Saturday evening were greeted with a message that read: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The move comes after a significant Supreme Court ruling on Friday, which upheld a ban that had been passed earlier in April 2025 with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden. The new law specifically prohibits American companies from hosting or serving content for the Chinese-owned social media platform unless TikTok sells itself to a buyer from the United States or one of its allied nations.
Potential for Reinstatement
Despite the ban taking effect, TikTok hinted at a potential return to U.S. markets. In a pop-up message displayed to users on the app, the company stated: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”
TikTok further assured users to “Please stay tuned!”, signaling the possibility of a resolution that could restore access to the platform in the coming days.
Trump’s Involvement
President-elect Donald Trump, who has been critical of TikTok for years, seems to be positioning himself as the app’s potential savior. He has previously warned about the dangers of TikTok due to concerns over national security and its data practices, but now, ahead of his inauguration, he has expressed a willingness to help reinstate the app.
On his Truth Social account, Trump shared statistics about his own popularity on TikTok, questioning, “Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?” This marked a shift in tone from his earlier stance. He also alluded to the possibility of delaying the ban for 90 days after he takes office, noting the complexity of the situation. In a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump stated:
“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation,” he said, adding, “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
What Led to the Ban?
The debate over TikTok’s security risks stems from its ties to China and the vast amounts of data it collects on its users. Lawmakers and national security officials have raised alarms over the potential for Chinese government influence over TikTok, citing concerns that user data could be accessed and misused by Chinese authorities. These worries were compounded by growing concerns about foreign influence in U.S. elections and the app’s vast reach among young people in America.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the ban, many users, including influencers and small businesses who rely on TikTok for income, expressed concerns about losing the platform. Influencers, particularly those who monetize their content, and small businesses that leverage the app for marketing were bracing for the impact of the ban. Many feared that their livelihoods could be disrupted, given the central role TikTok plays in modern digital marketing.
The App’s Removal from App Stores
In addition to being shut down, TikTok and other apps owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, have been removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This further complicated efforts for users to access or download the app in the U.S. as they could no longer find it through regular app marketplaces.
The Ongoing Saga
The situation surrounding TikTok has been a long-running saga in the U.S., with Trump’s administration taking action in 2020 to attempt to ban the app due to similar national security concerns. While the ban was never fully implemented, it sparked a series of discussions and legal battles, culminating in the recent ban upheld by the Supreme Court.
With TikTok‘s sudden departure from U.S. users’ smartphones, the future of the app in the country remains uncertain. The app’s potential return, especially under President Trump’s influence, remains an open question, with many hopeful that a compromise could be reached that would allow TikTok to continue its popular existence in the U.S.
Looking Ahead
As the Trump administration steps in and the nation awaits his official decision, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. could soon be in the hands of a new administration. If a 90-day extension is granted, the future of TikTok and similar apps will likely remain a topic of heated debate in the coming months.
