U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a fresh executive order, giving ByteDance an additional 90 days to divest its U.S. operations of TikTok. The new deadline is now September 17, extending the timeline for a possible sale or shutdown of the app, which is at the center of a long-running national security and data privacy debate.
This marks the third time President Trump has postponed action on the mandate, which initially required ByteDance to finalize a sale by January 19. The extension comes despite legislation requiring substantial progress toward a divestment or a forced shutdown.
In a notable policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump extended the sale deadline despite growing pressure to enforce the law mandating ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets or shut the app down. This is the third extension since the issue began dominating national headlines.
Trump defended the extension, emphasizing TikTok’s impact on young American voters.
“We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available,” the company said in a statement.
TikTok also mentioned it is in discussions with Vice President JD Vance’s office to work out a resolution.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will issue another executive order soon.
“President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” she said, adding the administration would use the additional time to “finalise a deal that ensures user data is protected.”China’s Approval Still a Key Factor
Trump voiced optimism regarding Beijing’s stance:
“Probably have to get China’s approval, but I think we’ll get it,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this week.
Earlier in March, Trump had hinted at a potential reduction in tariffs on China to facilitate the TikTok deal.
Talks around spinning off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a domestic entity were ongoing earlier this year but faced setbacks after China pushed back in response to new U.S. tariffs. While discussions are ongoing, legislative opposition is mounting.
Some Democratic lawmakers are questioning Trump’s repeated extensions and whether the proposed deal meets legal standards. They argue that ongoing delays may test the limits of executive authority.
President Trump’s decision to extend the TikTok divestment deadline by another 90 days highlights the complex intersection of technology, national security, geopolitics, and domestic politics. While the executive order buys more time for ByteDance to finalize a deal with U.S. stakeholders, it also signals the administration’s intent to keep the app operational—especially given TikTok's significant influence among younger demographics.
Trump's remarks indicate optimism that a deal could be struck, potentially with Chinese approval, though ongoing trade tensions may complicate matters. The extension also underscores concerns raised by lawmakers about the legal authority behind repeated delays and the broader implications for U.S.-China tech relations.
As negotiations continue and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the coming weeks will be crucial for TikTok’s future in the United States. Whether the deal satisfies national security requirements and legal benchmarks remains to be seen, but for now, TikTok remains accessible to millions of users across the country.