TikTok has secured a 90-day reprieve in the United States as President Donald Trump prepares to sign an executive order delaying the app’s sale-or-ban deadline once again. This marks the third extension since Trump returned to office earlier this year, following ByteDance’s failure to complete a U.S.-approved sale by the original January deadline.
“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. She emphasized that the extension aims to “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.”
Trump, speaking to the BBC, hinted that approval from Chinese authorities might still be needed but expressed optimism: “I think we’ll get it. I think President Xi will ultimately approve it.” When asked whether he had legal authority to extend the deadline, he said simply, “We do.”
The app, used by over 170 million Americans, was briefly taken offline in January before Trump’s inauguration, only to be quickly restored. Although Congress passed the original sale-or-ban measure in 2024, and the Supreme Court upheld it in January, Trump’s extensions have cast doubt on whether a ban will ever be enforced under his administration.
Analysts have noted TikTok’s confident posture, pointing to the company’s rollout of advanced AI video tools at the Cannes Lions festival this week. “There is nothing ‘looming’ about the ban anymore,” said Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering. “TikTok’s future looks more stable than uncertain.”
ByteDance is still in talks with potential U.S. buyers. Oracle, backed by Trump ally Larry Ellison, remains a frontrunner. Competing bids have emerged from investor groups including Frank McCourt, Kevin O’Leary, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and YouTube influencer MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson). ByteDance has said any final agreement would require approval under Chinese law.
While Trump previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, he has recently voiced support for the app, crediting it for helping him win over young voters in the 2024 election. “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” he said in December.
For now, TikTok continues operating in the U.S., even as the geopolitical tug-of-war over its ownership—and future—remains unresolved.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
