TikTok Resumes US Service Amid Trump Influence... Attention on Changes in Shareholding Structure

170 Million U.S. Users
Chinese Short-Form Platform Resumes Service After 14 Hours
WSJ: "Trump Could Become a Potential Hero"

TikTok, a Chinese short-form video platform with 170 million American users, resumed its service 14 hours after suspending operations in the United States. On the 20th (local time), President-elect Donald Trump, who is about to be inaugurated, achieved his goal through political influence alone without issuing an executive order.

On the 19th (local time), TikTok sent a message to users saying, "Welcome back," and "Thanks to President Trump's efforts, TikTok has returned to the United States." TikTok also stated, "President Trump provided the guarantees necessary for TikTok and its partners to restore the service," and added, "We will seek a long-term solution with the new president to meet legal requirements."

TikTok, which enjoys high popularity mainly among the American Gen Z (those born in the mid-1990s and later), temporarily suspended its service as the bipartisan national security law, known as the 'TikTok Ban Act,' took effect on the 19th (local time). Passed by the U.S. Congress in April amid consensus on the security threat from China, this law demands ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to either relinquish ownership or cease operations in the U.S.

President-elect Trump has publicly opposed the TikTok Ban Act for several weeks. On the 20th (local time), immediately after the inauguration, he announced plans to nullify the law through an executive order and actively defended TikTok. Even on the 19th (local time), when the TikTok Ban Act took effect, Trump emphasized on his social media platform, Truth Social, "We should not let TikTok remain in the dark," and "The executive order will open the way for deals that protect national security."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) evaluated, "Although Trump's legal challenge may complicate the president-elect's plans, it has opened the possibility of becoming a potential hero to investors, customers, millions of businesses, and social media entrepreneurs in the U.S."

However, some in the market pointed out that although TikTok's service has resumed, it is only a temporary measure. As a solution to overcome legal risks, President-elect Trump mentioned on Truth Social that the U.S. would hold 50% ownership in a U.S.-China joint venture. No details were provided. TikTok also plans to actively cooperate with President-elect Trump to meet legal requirements.

The calculations of ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, are expected to become more complicated. According to WSJ, ByteDance has claimed that U.S. asset management firm BlackRock, U.S. investment company General Atlantic, and Republican heavyweight Jeff Yass jointly own 60% of TikTok's shares. CNN noted, "TikTok's future depends on negotiations with the Trump administration," and "It will require changes in the complex relationship between ByteDance and the U.S. government."

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to the inauguration on the 20th (local time). It is also reported that prominent figures in the U.S. tech industry, including Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, were invited.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.