U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order later this week that would grant TikTok a third extension to complete its sale to American stakeholders. The announcement came from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who reiterated Trump’s intention to keep the platform operational in the United States.
This isn’t the first time Trump has postponed TikTok's divestment deadline. In April, he signed an executive order providing a 75-day grace period after the deal with U.S. buyers stalled. The president had made it clear that he did not want TikTok banned outright, provided that American user data could be protected under new ownership.
The latest extension will offer a 90-day window for negotiations to continue. According to Leavitt, the administration remains committed to reaching a solution that would allow TikTok to remain accessible to American users under a secure framework. Discussions are ongoing to finalize a sale that satisfies national security concerns.
Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning from the G7 summit in Canada, Trump told reporters he would “probably” extend the deadline again. He expressed confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping would support an agreement eventually. Trump’s comments suggest diplomatic discussions between the two countries remain active in the background.
This would be the third official extension granted to TikTok. The first occurred on January 20, immediately after Trump assumed office. That decision followed a short-lived suspension of the platform after Congress approved a ban, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
A second extension was issued in April, driven by optimism that a deal was close. However, that attempt collapsed after China rescinded its approval, reportedly in retaliation for Trump’s decision to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods.
Despite the extensions, it remains unclear how long Trump will continue postponing a potential ban. Talks are still underway to finalize a structure in which TikTok’s U.S. operations would be owned and managed domestically, minimizing national security risks.
TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has yet to reach a final agreement that satisfies all parties involved.
Since joining TikTok last year, Trump has amassed over 15 million followers on the platform. He has frequently acknowledged the app’s role in helping him reach younger demographics. Back in January, he even admitted to having a “soft spot” for the app, despite concerns about its Chinese ownership and data privacy issues.
Conclusion
The Trump administration's decision to sign a third extension for TikTok's U.S. sale underscores the complex intersection of technology, national security, and geopolitics. While the move temporarily averts a nationwide ban, it also highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China. As negotiations continue, the future of TikTok in America hinges on whether a deal can be struck that addresses security concerns without disrupting one of the country's most popular social media platforms. For now, TikTok’s millions of U.S. users can continue accessing the app