TikTok shouts out Trump as app blacks out for millions of users across US

TikTok went dark for users across the US late Saturday as the app notified users of a ban that went into effect just days before President-elect Trump’s inauguration.

Users who tried to use the app on Saturday night received the following message: “Sorry, TikTok is not available right now. A law banning TikTok has been passed in the US Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok right now.”

The app flagged Trump, saying: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

The TikTok app was not available in Apple and Google stores as of 10:50 pm EST, as the stores are prohibited from offering the app under a bipartisan law signed by President Biden last spring that required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, whether to sell out the stadium on Sunday or face a US ban. Internet hosting services are also restricted from providing service to US users.

Lawmakers in Congress who supported the law say the measure is necessary to protect national security and prevent Americans from consuming what they describe as propaganda from foreign enemies.

Hours earlier, the app informed users that the ban on TikTok would go into effect on Sunday.

Leadership noted that the ban would “force” the company to make its services “temporarily unavailable.”

Screenshot of TikTok app update, Saturday. (Fox News Digital / Fox News)

“We are working to restore our service in the US as soon as possible, and we appreciate your support,” the statement read. “Please stay tuned.”

The White House said this week that Biden did not plan to enforce the ban, that it would be up to Trump, who takes office on Monday.

Social media said it will be “dark” on Sunday without a “definitive” statement from the Biden administration.

“The statements issued today by the Biden White House and the Department of Justice failed to provide the necessary clarity and certainty to service providers essential to maintaining the availability of TikTok to more than 170 million Americans,” TikTok said in a statement sent to X.

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The TikTok app logo is displayed on the iPhone. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis / AP Newsroom)

But White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described TikTok’s demand as “difficult” and said there was no reason for TikTok or other companies to “take action in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office.”

ByteDance has nine months to sell TikTok to an authorized buyer but chose, along with TikTok, to take legal action against the law.

The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld the law, citing a national security risk due to its relationship with China, Fox News Digital reported.

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Trump said he needs to “review” the ban before making a decision, and that he “might” give TikTok a 90-day extension from the January 19 deadline after taking office. If there is an extension, Trump said it would “probably” be announced on Monday.

Trump said he “might” give TikTok a 90-day extension. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

The law allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if the sale continues, although ByteDance has previously said it will not sell TikTok.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew thanked Trump in a video Friday for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong First Amendment move and resists illegal censorship.”

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During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would “never ban TikTok” after joining the platform, but he led calls for a ban during his first term in office.

Brie Stimson of Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed to this report.