TikTok is Back: Trump Promises to Protect the App with Executive Order from Day One


**Trump Commits to Protect TikTok Before Inauguration, Changing Previous Position**

Just a day prior to his inauguration, president-elect Donald Trump revealed intentions to deliver a “day one executive order” focused on preserving TikTok, marking a surprising turnaround from his prior efforts to ban the application during his first term.

On Jan. 19, Trump took to Truth Social to announce his plan to “prolong the timeline before the law’s restrictions come into effect” while aiming for a “deal to safeguard our national security.” He suggested the possibility of negotiating a partnership whereby an American firm would secure 50% ownership of TikTok. Trump encouraged businesses to “ensure TikTok stays operational” and reassured them there would be “no repercussions for any company assisting in keeping TikTok active prior to my order.”

### TikTok Reacts to Trump’s Announcement

TikTok swiftly responded to Trump’s declarations, initiating moves to restore service. The app resumed functionality for current users shortly thereafter, although it continues to be absent from U.S. app stores. In a statement posted on its official policy account on X, TikTok expressed appreciation to Trump: “We thank President Trump for offering the essential clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not incur penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans, allowing more than 7 million small businesses to prosper.”

Although Trump has yet to assume executive power, TikTok rolled out a new pop-up notification for users, which stated:

> **Welcome back!**
> We appreciate your patience and support. Thanks to President Trump’s actions, TikTok is returning to the U.S.!
> You can keep creating, sharing, and discovering all that you love on TikTok.

### A Change in Trump’s Position on TikTok

This signifies a significant change from Trump’s prior stance. During his first term, he issued executive orders aimed at TikTok, underscoring concerns regarding national security. However, in recent months, Trump has emerged as a strong proponent of the application. Last month, he filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, asserting that he is uniquely qualified to save TikTok while protecting national security. Despite his appeal, the court upheld the ban.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew has openly commended Trump’s initiatives. On Jan. 17, Chew shared a message with users, expressing gratitude to Trump for his backing: “This is a robust defense of the First Amendment and a stand against unwarranted censorship. We are thankful to have the support of a president who genuinely understands our platform — one who has utilized TikTok to share his own views and connect with a global audience, garnering over 60 billion views of his content in the process.”

### TikTok’s Messaging Changes

Before Trump’s announcement, TikTok had shown a pop-up message informing users about the impending ban:

> **We regret that a U.S. law banning TikTok will take effect on January 19 and force us to make our services temporarily unavailable.**
> We’re working diligently to restore our service in the U.S. as swiftly as possible, and we appreciate your support. Please stay tuned.

In the wake of Trump’s commitment, the message was revised to:

> **A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.**
> We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will collaborate with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!

The pop-up was eventually removed altogether.

### Big Tech Aligns with Trump

Trump’s newfound endorsement of TikTok occurs alongside increasing alignment between the president-elect and influential tech leaders. Individuals such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Tesla/X owner Elon Musk have publicly endorsed Trump’s policies, especially his contentious views on content moderation and free speech.

Meta, for example, has recently revised its moderation and diversity policies, easing restrictions on hate speech and eliminating diversity mandates in favor of a more “free speech”-oriented approach. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has defended his choice to contribute millions to Trump’s inaugural fund, despite backlash from U.S. Senators.

### Tech Leaders to Attend Inauguration

Numerous high-profile tech executives, including TikTok’s Shou Chew, are anticipated to be present at Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday. The event will signal the start of a presidency that seems set to transform the dynamics between Big Tech and government.

**UPDATE: Jan. 19, 2025, 1:58 p.m. EST**
This article has been updated to include information about TikTok’s new in-app notification following the restoration of its service.