Staff Reports
In a politically charged twist worthy of a D.C. drama series, TikTok decided to play nice with American users once again, courtesy of a not-so-timely intervention by President-elect Donald Trump. The social media platform briefly went dark, only to flip the switch back on after Trump pledged to issue an executive order that allows the Chinese-controlled app to keep its lights on—despite a law that should have had it grounded.
In what can only be described as a grateful gesture, TikTok extended its thanks to Trump for giving a nod of approval to its service providers. Apparently, the company is hosting over 170 million American users and allowing 7 million small businesses to bask in the glow of its services, and it just wouldn’t do to let those enterprises suffer due to a well-deserved ban on a foreign tech giant. Not to mention, who could resist the allure of TikTok dances when national security is at stake?
Trump, who evidently enjoys mixing executive orders with social media strategy, announced plans on his Truth Social platform to grant TikTok a crucial 90-day grace period to comply with U.S. regulations. Said regulations demand that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, find an American buyer or face a complete blackout. Forget family drama—this saga should win a Peabody Award for political intrigue.
TikTok restores U.S. Service After Trump Offers Executive Order to Give More Time to Comply with Law https://t.co/pszRM8RUG4 via @JustTheNews
— Kenny, USA Patriot (@kennethy69) January 19, 2025
The shutdown took place late Saturday night, leaving users and influencers in the lurch. However, by midday Sunday, TikTok emerged from the abyss, ready to entertain millions. Trump wasn’t going to let a little thing like a national safety law dim the spotlight on exciting inaugural festivities; he made it clear Americans deserved to witness the pomp and circumstance—preferably while scrolling through viral videos.
In a move that could be labeled as negotiating 101, Trump suggested the idea of a joint venture that would give the U.S. a 50% ownership stake in TikTok. Because nothing says “freedom” quite like an app grounded in Chinese roots being rescued by American hands, right? He opined that with U.S. approval, TikTok could be worth somewhere in the ballpark of hundreds of billions—maybe even trillions. The stakes? Clearly higher than the latest influencer challenge. And with the right management, perhaps TikTok could even be transformed from a foreign liability into a national treasure. Talk about a hallmark government rescue story!
