TikTok’s fate in the United States has been postponed once again. President Donald Trump is set to extend the app’s sale-or-ban deadline for the third time since taking office, granting TikTok at least another 90 days of operation.
“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday.
Originally slated for a ban after its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, failed to sell its U.S. operations by a January deadline, TikTok now has a temporary reprieve. Leavitt explained that the extension aims to finalize a deal ensuring American users’ data security. ByteDance and TikTok have not commented on the development.
Trump hinted at the decision earlier, telling the BBC he would “probably” extend the deadline, noting the need for approval from Chinese authorities. “I think President Xi will ultimately approve it,” he stated confidently.
However, the move clashes with Congress’s earlier mandate, passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, requiring TikTok’s sale or ban due to fears of espionage and political manipulation. Despite legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld the law earlier this year.
TikTok’s future remains uncertain, but analysts like Forrester’s Kelsey Chickering argue the likelihood of a ban under Trump is diminishing. “There’s nothing ‘looming’ about a TikTok ban anymore,” Chickering said, highlighting TikTok’s rollout of new AI tools and apparent confidence in its U.S. operations.
Meanwhile, potential buyers continue to circle the app, including Oracle, billionaire Frank McCourt, and YouTuber MrBeast, who expressed interest as part of a separate investor group.
For now, TikTok users can breathe a sigh of relief—but the saga is far from over.
thetechtrident.com 