The short-video app TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been made available again for download on Apple and Google app stores in the United States. This follows the app’s restriction earlier this year in the country.
This return comes after U.S. President Donald Trump showed willingness to ease the restrictions that threatened to ban the platform in the country. This measure allows both new downloads and updates of the app, providing temporary relief for users and the company.
In January 2025, TikTok had stopped operating in the United States for several hours due to the enforcement of legislation passed in April 2024.
This legislation, backed by Democrats and Republicans, gave ByteDance a nine-month deadline to sell its U.S. operations to a buyer not considered an “adversary” of the United States.
However, President Trump signed a 75-day extension on January 21, one day after taking office, allowing the platform to continue operating while its situation is resolved.
The order instructed the Attorney General and the Department of Justice not to enforce sanctions or measures to comply with the legislation passed under Joe Biden’s administration.
Trump Considers Extending Deadline for TikTok Sale
President Donald Trump stated there is a possibility of extending the deadline given to ByteDance to divest from TikTok in the United States.
“It can definitely be extended, but we’ll see,” the president said from the Oval Office at the White House. However, he also noted he does not see this extension as necessary, stating, “There are plenty of people interested” in acquiring the app.
The Trump administration has insisted that the sale of the platform’s U.S. operations must be to an entity that does not pose a threat to the country. According to some reports, tech giant Microsoft is among the companies in talks to acquire TikTok.
Legislation and Executive Measures Surrounding TikTok
The legislation regulating TikTok’s situation was passed in April 2024 and requires ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations within nine months. This law was pushed under the argument of protecting national security, as U.S. authorities believe TikTok’s ties to its parent company could pose risks related to user data access.
Additionally, President Trump recently signed an executive order instructing the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce to create a “sovereign fund” that could acquire the video platform. This measure aims to ensure TikTok is transferred to an entity that meets the security standards required by the U.S. government.
The Future of TikTok in the United States
TikTok’s return to app stores represents a temporary reprieve for the platform and its millions of users in the United States. However, the app’s future remains uncertain, as it depends on ongoing sale negotiations and decisions the Trump administration will make in the coming days.
With multiple interested buyers and the possibility of extending the sale deadline, the outcome of this conflict will be key in determining the fate of one of the world’s most popular apps. Meanwhile, the platform continues operating under the shadow of national security concerns and political tensions between the United States and China.
Image: Infobae
