Trump Restores TikTok Access for 170 Million Users

Donald Trump claimed credit for saving TikTok during a recent rally, asserting that his intervention prevented the platform from being banned in the U.S. He emphasized his role in forcing a joint ownership deal with ByteDance and highlighted how TikTok helped him secure a larger share of the youth vote in the 2024 election. Critics, however, are skeptical, suggesting the entire episode is a well-crafted PR stunt, pointing to the app's brief shutdown that lasted only 12 hours and Trump's previous push to ban TikTok in 2020. Many social media users reacted with disbelief, questioning the authenticity of Trump's claims and noting his close ties with TikTok's CEO. Despite the controversy, some influencers expressed gratitude toward Trump for restoring the app, which had been temporarily unavailable due to legal pressures. The situation underscores the complicated relationship between TikTok, Trump, and U.S. national security concerns.