A Timeline of TikTok’s US Ban (and What Comes Next)

So, TikTok is now officially banned in the US, but it’s also not, and also, it’s only banned for people who want to download the app, while those who have previously downloaded it can still use it. And Trump promised to save it and make a lot of money for the US in the process.

Yes, if you weren’t following the back-and-forth over the weekend (which no doubt every social media manager was, given the impact it could have on their strategy), TikTok is now somewhat illegal for users in the US, but Trump wants it sort out.

Which may or may not work.

Also, there has been confusion over Trump’s actual role in the TikTok saga and whether he was the one who originally caused the push that led to the TikTok ban over the weekend, which he will now rescue users from.

That is only partially true.

Here’s a complete timeline of the ongoing chaos surrounding TikTok’s ownership in America.

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July 2020 – After various governments banned TikTok on official devices, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the US was considering TikTok ban in full. President Trump then confirms this, noting that he is considering banning TikTok in the US in retaliation for the COVID pandemic.

August 2020 – President Trump issues an executive order banning TikTok due to the data collection and censorship carried out in the application on behalf of CCP.

September 2020 – Part of Trump’s executive order (app download ban) is blocked by District Court for the District of Columbiaand the judge noted that the president “probably overstepped his authority by trying to ban TikTok” without proper evidence or due process.

October 2020 – Trump’s executive order is blocked by a federal judgeafter a group of TikTok influencers challenged the ban. The federal judge also notes that Trump overstepped his authority by invoking extraordinary economic powers based on hypothetical claims.

November 2020 – On appeal from the White House, another federal judge blocks Trump’s executive orderagain citing a lack of evidence of wrongdoing and a lack of due process for TikTok and parent company ByteDance.

July 2021 – President Joe Biden betrays executive order which calls back the Trump administration’s attempts to ban TikTok. At the same time, the Biden administration acknowledges concerns about the app being controlled by a “foreign adversary” (so yes, Trump did initiate a ban on TikTok, but that attempt was initially based on retaliation, not security concerns, and failed and closed down in 2021).

december 2022 – Senate Intelligence Committee proposes a new bill to “block and prohibit all transactions” in the United States by social media companies with at least one million monthly users that are located in or are “substantially influenced” by countries considered foreign adversaries.

March 2024 – After confidential briefings by cyber security experts on the risks posed by TikTok, the house legislators approve legislation which will force ByteDance to sell TikTok to American ownership. The House votes on the bill 352 to 65.

March 2024 – Says presidential candidate Donald Trump wouldn’t ban TikTok if he had a choice, despite the security concerns, because banning TikTok would only benefit Meta. Trump says Meta acted biased when it banned his account in 2021.

April 2024 – Following the other confidential briefing from security officials, US Senate passes a law that will force TikTok to be sold to an American companyor face a ban in the region. It’s an account passed 79-18. Shortly thereafter, President Biden signs the billgiving Bytedance 9 months (or until January 19, 2025) to sell TikTok to a US-based owner.

June 2024 – Presidential candidate Trump joins TikTok.

September 2024 – After acquisition millions of followers on the appTrump promises to save TikTok if elected, noting that he is now “big star” on the platform.

december 2024 – US Court of Appeals rejects TikTok’s offer disqualify the US government forced sale law.

January 2025 – The Supreme Court supports TikTok selling account.

January 2025 – The Biden administration says so will not enforce the TikTok ban on January 19leaving Trump and his team to implement the law as they wish. Yet even so, the approved law goes into effect, leaving app providers with no choice but to remove TikTok in the US

January 2025 – President-elect Trump says he will “most likely” to sign the 90-day extension of the approved law after it is inaugurated, although it is not clear if this is possible retrospectively, since the law will have already been passed.

January 2025 – After a short period of inaccessibility, TikTok is restored in USAafter Oracle accepts Trump’s assurances that they will not be penalized under the sales law. Apple and Google keep TikTok out of their app stores for fear of prosecution.

January 2025 – After his inauguration, Trump signs the executive order directing the attorney general to take no enforcement action on the sale of TikTok for a period of 75 days to allow Trump and his team “to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly manner that protects national security and avoids an abrupt shutdown of the communications platform they use millions of Americans.“

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As you can see, TikTok is technically still banned in the US, based on a bill approved by the Senate that went into effect on January 19th. It’s unclear whether Trump can issue an executive order suspending the law that has already been approved, which will be the next battleground for TikTok US

But Trump is confident he can stop the bill and eventually find a new solution sees TikTok become 50% US ownedand meets the requirements of the original account.

Again, to be clear, it remains entirely unclear whether this is possible or whether TikTok can be unbanned via an executive order from the president.

But at least for now, TikTok is mostly functional again for Americans.