Trump Extends TikTok Ban Deadline for The Third Time
Synopsis
TikTok users can breathe easy for another three months as US President Trump announced he’ll extend the app’s ban deadline once again, marking the third time he’s pushed back the forced sale requirement since…
TikTok users can breathe easy for another three months as US President Trump announced he’ll extend the app’s ban deadline once again, marking the third time he’s pushed back the forced sale requirement since taking office this year.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will sign a new executive order this week keeping TikTok operational in the United States. The popular video platform was supposed to face a ban after its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, missed January’s deadline to sell to an American buyer.
“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” Leavitt told reporters. She said the 90-day extension aims to ensure that this deal is closed so that the American people can continue using the app with the assurance that their data is safe.
This move puts Trump at odds with Congress, which passed the original sale-or-ban legislation last year over national security concerns. Lawmakers are worried that TikTok’s Chinese ownership could allow Beijing to spy on American users or manipulate political content on the platform that serves 170 million Americans.
Legal Authority Questioned
Trump’s ability to keep extending the deadline is raising a lot of questions among legal experts and analysts. When asked about his legal authority to grant another extension, Trump simply said, “We do” without elaborating on the constitutional basis for his actions.
The Supreme Court had already upheld the congressional ban in January, just before Trump took office. The platform even went dark briefly during inauguration weekend before Trump’s team worked to restore access.
Trump’s changing stance on TikTok reflects his evolving political calculations. During 2020, he tried to force ByteDance to sell TikTok to American buyers. But his tune changed a lot after the 2024 election, when he credited the platform with helping him win younger voters. He said that he has a warm spot in his heart for TikTok, though exit polls showed most young people actually backed Kamala Harris.
Deal Negotiations Continue
Behind the scenes, negotiations for TikTok’s future are ongoing. Trump mentioned that any deal would likely need approval from the Chinese President, suggesting diplomatic channels remain active. The administration has hinted that talks with China have made a bit of progress, though no concrete agreement has been made.
Multiple high-profile bidders are circling around the platform. Oracle, whose co-founder Larry Ellison is a Trump ally, remains a potential buyer. A different group includes billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Even YouTube star MrBeast has stepped in.
Industry analysts are starting to remove the ban threat entirely. Forrester’s Kelsey Chikering noted that TikTok is acting like a company confident in its future, recently rolling out new AI video tools at the Cannes advertising festival.
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