After Donald Trump's pledge, TikTok says in process to restore services in US

TikTok app with the message "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now" are seen in this illustration

US President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive TikTok access in the United States of America by executive order after he is sworn in on Monday, but said he wants the popular social media app to be at least half owned by U.S. investors.

"I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up," Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. Donald Trump said he would "extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security." “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump wrote.

“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up,” Trump wrote. “Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars - maybe trillions.” In his post on Sunday, Trump said he “would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” but it was not immediately clear if he was referring to the government of an American company. Trump said the executive order would specify there would be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before his order.

After the announcement by Donald Trump, TikTok said it was in the process of restoring its service in the US on Sunday, adding it will work with Republican President-elect Donald Trump on a long-term solution that keeps the popular Chinese-owned social media app in the United States.

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," TikTok said in a statement that thanked Trump for "providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties (for) providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive."

Trump had earlier said he would most likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.The law gives the sitting president authority to grant a 90-day extension if a viable sale is underway. Although investors made a few offers, ByteDance previously said it would not sell.

Earlier, TikTok stopped working for its 170 million American users late on Saturday before a law shutting it down on national security grounds took effect on Sunday. U.S. officials had warned that under Chinese parent company ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans' data being misused.

"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned," a message notified users of TikTok, which disappeared from Apple and Google app stores late on Saturday.

Google and Apple removed the app from their digital stores to comply with a federal law that required them to do so if TikTok parent company ByteDance didn’t sell its U.S. operation by Sunday.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew plans to attend the U.S. presidential inauguration and attend a rally with Trump on Sunday, a source told Reuters.