Trump Lifts TikTok Ban on Federal Government Devices

Donald Trump lifted the ban on TikTok's use on federal government devices, determining the application no longer poses a national security threat. The decision follows a January deal that transferred control of TikTok's US business from its Chinese parent, ByteDance Ltd., to a consortium of American firms led by Oracle Corp. and Silver Lake Management LLC.

The White House Office of Management and Budget rescinded the 2023 restrictions after the United States Department of Justice concluded the app no longer qualifies as a covered application under a 2022 law. The Justice Department stated that TikTok is now majority-owned by US investors and functions independently of ByteDance. The agency further noted that the company revised its content recommendation algorithm and cybersecurity program to protect federal information.

President Trump, who orchestrated the sale, credited the application with aiding his 2024 election victory and thanked Chinese leader Xi Jinping for facilitating the transaction.