Former U.S. President Donald Trump has officially extended the deadline for TikTok’s divestment by another 90 days. Giving the Chinese-owned social media platform additional time to avoid a complete ban in the United States. This marks the third extension since the enactment of the Protecting Americans from Foreign-Controlled Applications Act in April 2024, which requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations or face an outright ban.
The White House confirmed that Trump will sign an additional executive order in the coming days. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “President Trump believes TikTok can still be saved, as long as ownership is transferred and American user data is secured.”
This move allows TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. until mid-September 2025, surpassing the previously set legal deadline of June 19. TikTok currently has around 170 million active users in the United States.
Legal Background
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law targeting apps believed to be under the influence of foreign adversaries, including TikTok. The law granted ByteDance 270 days to divest from foreign control. Although TikTok challenged the law, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal, upholding the legal framework for banning the app if no sale occurs.
However, both the Biden and Trump administrations have taken a more lenient approach by issuing extensions. Critics argue that this contradicts the original law, which only allows for a single 90-day extension.
Sale Negotiation Process
Several private U.S. entities have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Companies such as Amazon, AppLovin, and AI firm Perplexity have been named as potential buyers. But the negotiation process faces significant obstacles, primarily due to the involvement of the Chinese government.
ByteDance has stated that it will not sell TikTok’s core algorithm—the vital component behind its content recommendation system. The Chinese government has also said that exporting such technology requires special approval. This makes it difficult for U.S. investors to obtain full control over the platform, especially from a technological standpoint.
Trump has expressed optimism that a deal can still be reached. “I believe President Xi will ultimately approve the best solution,” he said during a press conference in Washington.
Political and Industry Reactions
The latest extension has sparked debate among U.S. lawmakers. Some Democratic members of Congress have questioned the legality of repeatedly extending the deadline. They argue that such actions undermine the authority of a law that was passed with bipartisan support.
Meanwhile, tech industry players and content creators have welcomed the extension. For them, a TikTok ban would significantly impact revenue streams, marketing strategies, and audience engagement.
“TikTok is not just an entertainment app. It’s a digital economic platform for millions of creators and small businesses,” said Jessica Tran, a technology analyst at Luminate Media.
Broader Implications
Trump’s move to extend TikTok’s deadline is also seen as part of a larger geopolitical strategy, especially amid rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China. By using TikTok as a bargaining chip, the U.S. could apply pressure on Beijing over broader issues such as tariffs, data security, and China’s global tech influence.
However, if no agreement is reached by September 2025, TikTok faces the risk of being fully banned in the U.S. This would set a major precedent for how democratic nations handle foreign tech platforms deemed to pose national security risks.
In summary, while TikTok has gained temporary relief to continue operating in the U.S., legal and political uncertainties still loom large. The platform’s future now hinges on the success of negotiations between private investors, the U.S. government, and Chinese regulators over the next few months.
