Google Play confirmed on Thursday that it has restored TikTok to its US app store, following President Donald Trump’s promises to keep the app running and an executive action delaying the enforcement of a ban. Bloomberg and CNBC reported that Apple would also reinstate TikTok on its app store by Thursday evening.
TikTok’s uncertain future stems from a law signed last April by then-President Joe Biden, which required ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to sell the app to a US or allied owner within 270 days or face a ban over national security concerns. The Supreme Court upheld the ban a day before the blackout, causing TikTok to shut down temporarily in January.
However, Trump assured that he would issue an executive order delaying enforcement, allowing TikTok to return. His order, signed on January 20, granted the platform an additional 75 days to find a new owner.
Despite the delay, the law imposed fines of up to $5,000 per user on TikTok’s technology partners—Apple, Google, and Oracle—if they continued supporting the app. However, Trump stated that these companies would not be held liable until he finalized the executive action.
Explaining his change of stance, Trump said he reconsidered TikTok’s ban after using the platform, emphasizing that it is primarily for young users. While his administration seeks a resolution that balances national security with TikTok’s widespread use, the app’s future in the US remains uncertain.
