TikTok has once again evaded a nationwide ban in the United States—at least for now. President Donald Trump announced he will sign a new executive order that extends the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the platform to a U.S.-approved buyer. The move gives TikTok another 90 days to comply with a law that otherwise mandates its removal from American app stores.
A Temporary Reprieve from a Permanent Ban
The law requiring TikTok’s sale to a non-Chinese entity was passed in 2024 under President Joe Biden and later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2025. According to the legislation, ByteDance must divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a full ban due to national security concerns. U.S. lawmakers have argued that the platform, which has around 170 million American users, could be exploited by China for surveillance and political interference.
Despite bipartisan support for the ban, President Trump has once again delayed its implementation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will issue the executive order this week, giving ByteDance until early fall to finalize a sale.
“As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” Leavitt stated. “This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.”
Trump’s TikTok Turnaround
This is not the first time Donald Trump has taken action on TikTok. During his first term in 2020, he attempted to ban the platform via executive order, citing national security threats. That effort was blocked by the courts. Now in his second term, Trump’s position has evolved.
Although he continues to emphasize data privacy concerns, Trump has shown a personal affinity for the platform. In a recent interview, he even credited TikTok for helping him win over young voters in the 2024 election, stating, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, because I won youth by 34 points.” (A claim contradicted by exit polls showing most young voters supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.)
Disagreement with Congress and Delay Tactics
Trump’s decision to issue multiple deadline extensions puts him at odds with Congress, which passed the legislation to force a sale or ban of the app. His predecessor, Joe Biden, signed the bill into law, emphasizing the need for action on foreign-owned tech platforms operating in the U.S.
The latest 90-day extension marks the third such delay since Trump took office this year. His actions have led some analysts to question whether a ban will ever actually happen.
“For all practical purposes, what ban? There is nothing ‘looming’ about the potential TikTok ban anymore,” said Kelsey Chickering, principal analyst at Forrester. “TikTok’s behavior also indicates they’re confident in their future.”
Indeed, the platform recently introduced new AI video features during the Cannes Lions festival, signaling business-as-usual rather than a company under existential threat.
U.S. Buyers Still in the Running
While the new deadline offers ByteDance more time, a U.S. buyer for TikTok has yet to be confirmed. Negotiations for an American acquisition have been ongoing for months. In April, the Trump administration claimed the U.S. and China were nearing a deal that would place majority control of TikTok’s U.S. operations under American ownership. However, ByteDance said “key matters” still needed to be resolved and any deal would require approval under Chinese law.
Several high-profile investors have expressed interest in acquiring the platform. Tech giant Oracle remains a top contender, with its co-founder Larry Ellison known to be a close Trump ally. Other potential buyers include billionaire Frank McCourt, “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and even YouTube sensation MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), who confirmed he’s part of a different investor group exploring the deal.
A Platform in Legal Limbo
Although TikTok briefly went offline for a few hours just before Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, it returned soon after, prompting the company to praise the new president for keeping the app accessible. The latest extension continues to place TikTok in a legal and political limbo—one where both geopolitical tensions and domestic politics influence the fate of a wildly popular social media platform.
TikTok and ByteDance have yet to issue any official statement regarding the new extension.
What Comes Next?
For now, TikTok has a 90-day lifeline to secure an American buyer and avoid a ban that has long been hanging over its head. But with Trump signaling both caution and affection for the app, and with several high-powered investor groups circling, the coming months could reshape the future of one of the world’s most influential digital platforms.
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