U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this week, granting a fresh 90-day extension for ByteDance on the Chinese mainland to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations. This marks the third deadline shift aimed at keeping the popular video-sharing app online.
Trump first paused a nationwide ban on TikTok on January 20, his first day in office, after Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court flagged data security concerns. In early April, he added another 75 days, hoping a sale to American investors would secure users’ data—only for talks to stall amid escalating tariff tensions.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the latest move urgent: “This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working 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.”
Across political and business circles, TikTok has become a case study in tech policy and global data governance. Trump, who has attracted more than 15 million followers on TikTok since joining last year, said aboard Air Force One returning from the Group of Seven summit in Canada that he “probably” would extend the deadline again—underscoring the platform’s unique sway with young voters.
As the clock resets once more, stakeholders from Silicon Valley to Washington and the Chinese mainland are under pressure to deliver a deal. Will this extension finally bridge national security concerns and TikTok’s cultural momentum? Join the conversation below.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
