Trump delays TikTok ban until April, allowing the app to return to Apple and Google stores in the US

TikTok is back on US app stores after President Donald Trump postponed enforcement of a ban that had briefly removed the Chinese-owned platform from Apple and Google’s digital shelves. The delay grants TikTok a temporary lifeline until 5 April, as the company navigates mounting pressure to sever ties with its Beijing-based parent, ByteDance.

The app, used by over 170 million Americans, was pulled last month as a legal deadline loomed. However, Trump later issued an executive order extending the deadline by 75 days, allowing TikTok to remain operational while a resolution is sought.

Bloomberg first reported that Apple and Google reinstated TikTok after receiving assurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for allowing downloads. The ban, initially passed with bipartisan support under former President Joe Biden, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations to an approved buyer or risk being outlawed entirely.

Washington officials have long voiced concerns over potential Chinese influence, alleging that TikTok could be used for espionage and political manipulation. TikTok and the Chinese government have repeatedly denied these claims, with Beijing strongly opposing any forced sale.

Despite the bipartisan backing of the ban, its fate took an unexpected turn when the US Supreme Court upheld it, only for Trump to later signal a willingness to negotiate. The former president, who once advocated for TikTok’s removal, has softened his stance, citing the platform’s role in his online presence. During last year’s election campaign, he boasted of garnering billions of views on the app and has since described having a “warm spot” for it.

Trump’s evolving position led to a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago with TikTok CEO Shou Chew following his November election victory. The company later sent a push notification to US users thanking Trump for his intervention when the app resumed service last month.

The question of TikTok’s future remains uncertain, with Trump hinting at a compromise. He suggested that a potential buyer could split ownership of the app, keeping half under US control while ensuring regulatory approval. “What I’m thinking of saying to someone is buy it and give half to the US, half, and we’ll give you a permit,” he stated during a recent press conference.

Several high-profile figures have been floated as potential buyers. Trump has reportedly expressed openness to a deal involving Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison or billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. Other names linked to a potential acquisition include billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian businessman and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, and YouTube megastar MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), who has claimed investor interest after publicly expressing his willingness to purchase TikTok.

As the clock ticks down to the new April deadline, TikTok’s fate remains in limbo. Whether a sale materialises or Trump crafts an alternative solution, the app’s millions of American users will be watching closely, waiting to see if their favourite social media platform survives Washington’s political crossfire.