TikTok is once again available for download in the U.S. as Apple and Google reinstate the app in their stores. The move follows assurances from the newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi that both companies will not face penalties for providing access to the app, despite the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding its future. However, the clock is still ticking on a potential forced sale, with only 50 days left before the latest deadline expires.
A Legal Loophole or a Strategic Delay?
TikTok’s reinstatement in the U.S. app stores might seem like a victory for the platform’s 170 million American users, but it’s far from a permanent solution. Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the app was set to be banned if it wasn’t sold to a U.S.-based owner by January 19. That deadline passed with no deal, raising questions about its fate.
Instead of enforcing the ban, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump issued an executive order granting TikTok an extra 75 days to negotiate a sale. While the order doesn’t legally override the previously approved law, it effectively delays any enforcement action.
But that wasn’t enough for Apple and Google. Unlike Oracle, which continued to provide infrastructure support for TikTok in the U.S., the two tech giants removed ByteDance-owned apps—including CapCut and Lemon8—from their stores. Only after receiving official legal protection from the Attorney General did they restore TikTok’s availability.
What Happens After 50 Days?
Trump’s executive order buys TikTok some time, but it doesn’t resolve the core issue: ByteDance’s continued ownership of the app. If no U.S. buyer is found within the next 50 days, the same legal challenges could resurface.
The administration has reportedly held talks with major American tech firms, including:
- Microsoft, which previously attempted to acquire TikTok in 2020
- Oracle, already involved in TikTok’s U.S. data operations
- Amazon, a new player in the conversation
Trump has even floated the idea of the U.S. government taking a direct stake in the company, though such a move would be unprecedented.
The China Factor
Even if a deal is reached, it would still need approval from Beijing. The Chinese government has previously blocked sales of key domestic technology assets to foreign entities, citing national security concerns. ByteDance has been working to find a compromise that would satisfy both Washington and Beijing, but no agreement has been announced.
The potential for a forced sale raises larger geopolitical questions. China’s regulatory stance on TikTok suggests that the country is unwilling to let a prized tech asset fall into U.S. hands. At the same time, Washington’s national security concerns about foreign data collection remain a key sticking point.
Users Get a Temporary Reprieve
For now, TikTok users in the U.S. can continue using the app as usual. The decision to reinstate downloads removes one major obstacle, ensuring that new users can join the platform and existing ones won’t have to find workarounds to update their app.
But the uncertainty isn’t over. With only 50 days left until the next deadline, the battle over TikTok’s future in the U.S. is far from settled. Whether ByteDance, the U.S. government, and potential American buyers can reach a deal remains to be seen.
