TikTok stopped working in the United States late Saturday and disappeared from Apple and Google apps, ahead of the entry into force of a law requiring the shutdown of the network used by 170 million Americans.
President-elect Donald Trump said earlier Saturday that he would "most likely" give TikTok another 90-day ultimatum after taking office on Monday, a promise that TikTok cited in a notice posted to users of the app.
The TikTok network, which is owned by China's ByteDance, told users trying to use the app later that " a law has been passed in the US banning TikTok. Unfortunately, this means you cannot use it at this time. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office...".
But in a post made on Sunday on Truth Social, Trump said he would like to see the United States take a 50% ownership of TikTok, in a joint venture along with current or new owners.
"This way we will save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to grow. TikTok does not exist without the approval of the United States. With our approval it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe trillions."
Under a law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last year, TikTok's Chinese parent company was given nine months to sell its U.S. operations to a pre-approved buyer. The law also allows the president to extend the deadline if the sale process has already begun.
“I think it would certainly be an option that we would look at... The 90-day delay is something that would most likely happen, because it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate,” President-elect Trump told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker in a phone interview. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday ,” he said.