TikTok has begun restoring its services in the United States after President Donald Trump announced plans to reestablish access to the app in the country upon his official inauguration. During a rally held on the eve of the inauguration ceremony, Trump declared that the restoration of TikTok represents a strategic necessity, underlining the importance of the application for US users. According to him, the United States will work on the creation of a joint venture to ensure the full operation of the platform, which has around 170 million users in the country.
Just hours before the event, TikTok released a message to its users confirming the return of the service thanks to the efforts of the incoming administration. However, on Sunday, while some users were able to access the platform again, the application was still not available for download in US digital stores. In a statement released previously, TikTok announced that it is committed to progressively restoring the service, in collaboration with its suppliers. The company expressed gratitude to President Trump for providing the regulatory clarity necessary so that technology partners could continue to support the application without incurring sanctions. In the statement, TikTok also highlighted the importance of the platform to more than seven million small businesses in the United States.
The reinstatement of TikTok comes at a time of heightened tension in relations between the United States and China. Trump reiterated his intention to introduce new tariffs on Chinese imports, while expressing his desire to maintain direct dialogue with Beijing’s leadership. When asked about the issue, China’s Foreign Ministry said at a news conference that companies should have the freedom to make decisions independently regarding their operations and potential international collaborations. The reactivation of TikTok in the United States represents a significant signal in the new government’s technological and trade policy. It remains to be seen what the long-term implications of this decision will be and how relations between Washington and Beijing will evolve in a context increasingly characterized by economic and strategic challenges.
