TikTok has disconnected access to its users in the United States late Saturday, shortly before a national ban on the app was to take effect, with President-elect Donald Trump unable to intervene until he takes office.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” said a message to users attempting to use the app.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!” the message added.
After months of legal wrangling, the US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a provision that will prohibit the popular video-sharing network in the name of national security unless its Chinese owners reach an agreement to sell it to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday.
TikTok has been hailed for its ability to turn ordinary users into global celebrities when a video goes viral, ranging from teenage dancers to grandmas providing cooking instructions.
It also has a fan in Trump, who has credited the app with connecting him with younger people, which helped him win the election in November 2024.
After discussing TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he may trigger a 90-day respite once he reclaims the Oval Office.
“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it’s appropriate,” he said, ahead of Monday’s inauguration.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” Trump said.
The statute enables a 90-day postponement if the White House can prove progress toward a feasible agreement, but TikTok owner ByteDance has bluntly opposed any sale.
The government of departing President Joe Biden has stated that it will leave the problem to Trump, and White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre described TikTok’s recent pronouncements as a “stunt.”
Following the court defeat, TikTok CEO Shou Chew wrote to Trump, praising him for his “commitment to working with us to find a solution.”
Trump “truly understands our platform,” he stated.
Chew is also planning to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The law mandates Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing fresh downloads. The corporations could face fines of up to $5,000 per person who uses the software.
Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, would also be legally required to uphold the prohibition.
Perplexity AI, a highly valued start-up, made a last-minute proposal on Saturday to merge with TikTok’s US division, according to a source familiar with the matter.
That arrangement might provide parent company ByteDance with a solution without selling the app entirely.
The plan, initially reported by US broadcaster CNBC, would create a new joint company by combining the assets of US TikTok and Perplexity AI, sponsored by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The proposal did not specify a price for the transaction, but a source thought it would cost at least $50 billion.
Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has also made an offer to buy TikTok’s US operations, saying he’s “ready to work with the company and President Trump to complete the deal.”
Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, who is involved in the deal, informed Fox News that ByteDance was offered $20 billion for TikTok’s US operations.
He acknowledged the legal uncertainties surrounding the matter, with it unclear if Trump’s executive decision to halt the ban would trump the statute.
“Congress wrote this law to be virtually president-proof,” warned Adam Kovacevich, chief executive of the industry trade group Chamber of Progress.
Sarah Kreps, a professor of government and law at Cornell University, stated that “if an executive order conflicts with an existing law, the law takes precedence, and the order can be struck down by the courts.”
With TikTok forced to stop down, US-based competitors Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts may profit.
