TikTok disabled access for US users late Saturday as a national ban on the platform took effect, with President-elect Donald Trump unable to intervene until his inauguration on Monday.
A message on the app confirmed the ban and expressed hope that Trump would work to reinstate TikTok after taking office.
The US Supreme Court upheld the ban on Friday, citing national security concerns unless ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, finalizes a sale to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday. ByteDance has refused to comply.
Trump, who credited TikTok for connecting him with younger voters, indicated he might grant a 90-day reprieve after his inauguration, pending progress toward a resolution. Outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration has left the matter to Trump.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his commitment to finding a solution and plans to attend his inauguration. Meanwhile, Apple and Google must remove TikTok from their app stores, facing fines of up to $5,000 per user for noncompliance.
