Trump delays ban; TikTok returns to US

WASHINGTON: Chinese social media app TikTok has returned to the U.S. The delay in enforcing the ban by President Donald Trump has allowed the app to reappear on Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. The ban has been temporarily suspended until April 5.

The app was removed from app stores on January 18. However, services were restored after a 75-day temporary pause was granted for implementing the law.

Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline for the TikTok ban by 75 days. He had stated that the service could resume if the U.S. secured a 50% ownership stake in TikTok. Trump also mentioned that he wanted to give TikTok time to negotiate a new deal to gain legal protection.

TikTok has 170 million users in the U.S. The app faced operational uncertainty in the country following a law signed by then-President Joe Biden last April. Meanwhile, speculations are growing that TikTok may also make a comeback in India following its return to the U.S.