TikTok users are being told the app is not currently available after the government’s official ban went into effect on Sunday.
As of Saturday night, the app began displaying a pop-up message saying “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” adding that President-elect Donald Trump “has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the message said. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!” The message then prompted users to close the app or learn more.
The app also appeared to be removed from app stores in the U.S. Saturday night, making it unavailable to download. TikTok has 170 million U.S. users.
Other Bytedance apps including CapCut, Lemon8 and Gauth displayed similar messages and also became unavailable to many U.S. users Saturday evening.
Earlier Saturday, Trump told NBC News that he will “most likely” give a legally permitted 90-day extension to TikTok to avoid a ban after he takes office Monday, but the move will not prevent the app from going dark on Sunday, when the law passed by Congress last year begins enforcing the ban.
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“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation,” Trump said to NBC News.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment Saturday night about the app’s notification praising the president-elect specifically.
Although the Biden administration has said it will not enforce the ban, TikTok had said it will have the app go dark unless it gets definitive assurances about potential legal fallout from the app still operating, including for third-party vendors such as Apple and Google.
On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the law banning TikTok, passed in April of last year, that said the app would be banned if it did not sold by its Chinese-owned parent company to a non-Chinese entity. American officials have said China’s involvement in the app poses a national security threat.
But the company has pushed back on lawmakers’ concerns, instead painting the looming ban as a free speech and censorship issue. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has said that the app is safe and secure.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, says the incoming Trump administration should work with the Biden administration to find an American buyer for TikTok.
This story is developing. Stay tuned for the latest updates here as the night unfolds.
NBC News contributed to this report.
