The popular video-sharing platform TikTok Deadline extended and will remain operational in the United States for at least another three months, as President Donald Trump prepares to issue a third extension on the deadline for a potential sale or ban of the app. This announcement comes amid ongoing discussions regarding its ownership, following the refusal of its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the platform by an earlier January deadline.
Extension of TikTok Deadline
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that President Trump plans to sign an executive order this week to prolong TikTokโs availability. โThis 90-day extension will 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,โ she stated.
In a separate interview, Trump indicated that he would โprobablyโ extend the TikTok Deadline, mentioning that securing approval from China may be necessary, expressing optimism that Chinese President Xi Jinping would agree. โI think weโll get it. I think President Xi will ultimately approve it,โ he said.
Congressional Scrutiny
Trumpโs decision to extend the TikTok deadline contrasts with congressional efforts. Last year, Congress passed legislation mandating a sale or ban of TikTok due to national security concerns, citing fears that the app, which boasts 170 million users in the U.S., could serve as a surveillance tool for the Chinese government. Following the passage of this law, the Supreme Court upheld it in January, just before Trump assumed office.
The TikTok ban briefly came into effect over the weekend preceding Trumpโs inauguration, but the platform was reinstated shortly thereafter. TikTok has since praised the administration for allowing its continued operation in the U.S.
Trumpโs Changing Stance on TikTok
During his first term, Trumpโs administration attempted to enforce a sale of TikTok to an American buyer. However, in a more recent statement, he remarked that he has developed a favorable view of the app, linking its popularity among younger voters to his support in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. โI have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points,โ he asserted in December, a claim that contradicts election data showing that younger voters largely backed the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Analysts are increasingly questioning the likelihood of a TikTok ban occurring during Trumpโs tenure. Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, noted, โWhat ban? There is nothing โloomingโ about the potential TikTok ban anymore.โ She further observed that TikTokโs recent initiatives, including the rollout of new AI video tools at the Cannes event, reflect the platformโs confidence regarding its future.
Ongoing Negotiations and Potential Sales
In April, the Trump administration suggested that a deal to shift majority control of TikTokโs U.S. operations to a domestic entity was close, but this agreement has yet to come to fruition. A spokesperson for ByteDance remarked, โThere are key matters to be resolved. Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law.โ
Potential buyers include cloud computing giant Oracle, whose co-founder Larry Ellison is a vocal supporter of Trump, as well as billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian businessman Kevin OโLeary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Notably, popular YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has also expressed interest in acquiring the platform as part of a separate investor group.
As discussions continue, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with the recent extension providing a temporary reprieve as stakeholders navigate complex geopolitical and legal landscapes.
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