TikTok has been granted a reprieve in the United States, as President Donald Trump plans to extend the deadline for its sale or ban for a third time since returning to office.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday that Trump will issue a new Executive Order this week, giving the popular video-sharing platform another 90 days to finalize a deal. This extension aims to ensure American users can continue using TikTok “with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.”The original deadline, set for January, required TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the platform to a U.S. firm. That sale has not yet occurred, and ByteDance has not commented on the latest extension.In an earlier BBC interview, Trump hinted at the move, saying he would “probably” grant more time and suggested China’s approval would be needed. “I think President Xi will ultimately approve it,” he said, adding, “We do” when asked if he had the legal authority to extend the deadline.The extension comes in defiance of Congress, which passed a law last year mandating either a sale or ban of TikTok due to national security concerns. The Biden administration had signed that bill into law, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it in January—just before Trump reentered the White House. TikTok briefly went offline during Trump’s inauguration weekend but was soon restored, with the company praising the president for allowing it to return.Trump previously attempted to force a sale of TikTok during his first term in 2020. Interestingly, his stance has softened recently, as he credited the platform with boosting his popularity among younger voters in the 2024 election. “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points,” he claimed, despite most young voters supporting Kamala Harris.Analysts say the repeated deadline extensions suggest a ban is unlikely. “What ban? There is nothing ‘looming’ about a TikTok ban anymore,” said Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering. She noted that TikTok is moving forward with confidence, unveiling new AI video tools at the Cannes tech event. “Smaller competitors like Snap may try to take advantage, but they won’t succeed. TikTok’s position looks stable.”Although a deal to transfer majority control of TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American entity was reportedly close in April, it remains unresolved. ByteDance has said any agreement would need Chinese regulatory approval.Several high-profile figures have shown interest in acquiring TikTok. Trump ally and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has been floated as a potential buyer. Other investor groups include billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and YouTube star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson).For now, TikTok’s 170 million American users can continue using the app—at least until the next deadline arrives.
