In a significant move, the White House announced that the popular video-sharing app TikTok will continue to operate in the United States for an additional three months, as President Donald Trump prepares to sign a new Executive Order. This marks the third extension of a sale or ban deadline that was initially set after the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, declined to sell its U.S. operations by a previous deadline.
Trump Delays TikTok Ban for Third Time Amid Ongoing Negotiations
Trump Delays TikTok Ban for Third Time Amid Ongoing Negotiations
As President Trump signs another extension for TikTok, the platform remains operational in the U.S. while negotiations continue with Chinese ownership.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the extension would help ensure that an agreement is reached, reassuring American TikTok users that their data remains secure. "We want to give both the platform and its users the peace of mind they deserve," Leavitt stated.
Previously, Trump had indicated that gaining approval from Chinese authorities for the deal was likely, expressing optimism about a favorable resolution with President Xi. When questioned about his authority to extend the deadline, Trump asserted, "We do." However, this decision has raised eyebrows given Congress's previous enactment of a sale-or-ban bill aimed at addressing national security concerns surrounding TikTok's potential data and surveillance ties to China. This legislation was upheld by the Supreme Court in January, shortly before Biden took office.
While the TikTok community briefly faced a service disruption last weekend, the platform has rebounded with assurances from Trump, who attributed its survival to its popularity among younger voters, a demographic he credited with his electoral success. Despite the possibility of an American ownership deal being in the works—previously rumored to involve the tech giant Oracle—no agreements have been finalized as of yet.
Industry analysts have begun to doubt the feasibility of an impending ban. Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, observed, "The narrative around a looming TikTok ban has shifted sharply; there’s less uncertainty about its future." Within the tech marketplace, TikTok’s confidence is further emphasized by recent enhancements to their platform, including innovative AI video tools rolled out at the Cannes festival.
As TikTok stays in the spotlight, varying groups continue to express interest in acquiring the platform, including high-profile individuals and large investors like YouTuber MrBeast. The ongoing negotiations and political maneuvering surrounding TikTok's ownership will likely keep the platform at the center of both public interest and technological discourse in the months ahead.
Previously, Trump had indicated that gaining approval from Chinese authorities for the deal was likely, expressing optimism about a favorable resolution with President Xi. When questioned about his authority to extend the deadline, Trump asserted, "We do." However, this decision has raised eyebrows given Congress's previous enactment of a sale-or-ban bill aimed at addressing national security concerns surrounding TikTok's potential data and surveillance ties to China. This legislation was upheld by the Supreme Court in January, shortly before Biden took office.
While the TikTok community briefly faced a service disruption last weekend, the platform has rebounded with assurances from Trump, who attributed its survival to its popularity among younger voters, a demographic he credited with his electoral success. Despite the possibility of an American ownership deal being in the works—previously rumored to involve the tech giant Oracle—no agreements have been finalized as of yet.
Industry analysts have begun to doubt the feasibility of an impending ban. Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, observed, "The narrative around a looming TikTok ban has shifted sharply; there’s less uncertainty about its future." Within the tech marketplace, TikTok’s confidence is further emphasized by recent enhancements to their platform, including innovative AI video tools rolled out at the Cannes festival.
As TikTok stays in the spotlight, varying groups continue to express interest in acquiring the platform, including high-profile individuals and large investors like YouTuber MrBeast. The ongoing negotiations and political maneuvering surrounding TikTok's ownership will likely keep the platform at the center of both public interest and technological discourse in the months ahead.
