Chrissy Teigen Slams TikTok Ban, Calls Out Donald Trump's Alleged 'Scheme'

Chrissy Teigen is the latest celebrity to speak out against the TikTok ban, accusing Donald Trump of orchestrating an alleged scheme to position himself as a hero.

The federal ban on TikTok has taken millions of U.S. users by surprise, leaving them unable to access the immensely popular social media platform. As of Saturday evening, the app was removed from major app stores, including those operated by Apple and Google, while its website displayed a message confirming the short-form video platform was no longer available. The blackout began just hours before the law officially took effect, leaving many users frustrated and searching for answers.

Among those voicing their opinions is actress and author Chrissy Teigen, who took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the ban and its potential implications.

In a series of Instagram Stories posted just before the law was enforced, Teigen accused Donald Trump of using the situation as a ploy to manipulate public perception.

“Let’s talk TikTok,” Teigen began. “Everyone’s bummed—‘OMG, I can’t believe it’s shut down.’ It’s not going to be shut down.”

She continued, “[TikTok] is on a hiatus for now, and it’s going to come back. And it’s gonna come back under Trump’s leadership, so every young person is going to be like, ‘OMG, I’m so grateful he brought it back, he brought back free speech.’”

Teigen suggested that the ban and its eventual reversal could be used to position Trump as a savior in the eyes of TikTok users, claiming, “It gets to be claimed by him as this amazing thing he did for people, and you’re all going to fall right into it.”

TikTok users opening the app on Saturday were greeted with a pop-up message preventing them from scrolling through videos. The message read, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” and explained that a law banning TikTok had been enacted in the United States.

The message also hinted at a possible resolution, stating, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” a nod to President-elect Trump’s pledge to “save” the platform. TikTok encouraged users to “stay tuned” for further updates.

The message presented to U.S. users leaves them with only two choices: closing the app or selecting an option that redirects them to the platform’s website. On the website, users encounter the same message and are provided the option to download their data—a process TikTok previously warned could take several days to complete.

Apple confirmed the removal of TikTok and ByteDance apps from its U.S. app stores in a statement posted on its website. While the apps are no longer available for download domestically, visitors to the U.S. may still have limited access. “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” the company said per AP News.

For users who already have TikTok installed on their devices, the app will remain functional, but it cannot be redownloaded if deleted or transferred to a new device. Additionally, in-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer available. Apple warned that the ban could affect the app’s performance, security, and compatibility with future iOS and iPadOS updates.

In response, TikTok CEO Shou Chew posted a video expressing gratitude for President Donald Trump’s commitment to finding a solution to keep the platform accessible in the United States. Chew praised Trump for taking “a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”

“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform,” Chew said. “One who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process.”

As the fallout from the ban continues, the debate over TikTok’s future in the U.S. has sparked widespread discussion.

One X user wrote, "They really took away TikTok. Nah take Facebook instead. Take Instagram. Sh-t take my EX idc."

"TiktoK banned, rednote down, Trump about to be in office, my ex still alive. CAN LIFE GET ANY WORSE?" another asked.

Many other users, including those residing in Canada, and even one member of The Blast residing in Panama, claim that a VPN doesn't even work to gain access to the social media platform.

"Tiktok not even working with a VPN…" one X user said.

"Omg, even a vpn doesn’t work to access TikTok," another wrote.

For now, TikTok remains offline, and millions of users are left waiting to see what will happen with the popular social media app.