In a move that keeps TikTok users scrolling for now, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order extending the deadline to block the popular short-video app for another 90 days. The new cutoff: September 17, 2025.
This marks the third time the administration has pushed back the ban. The first extension arrived on January 20, his first day in office, after a national ban—approved by Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court—briefly took the platform offline. A second extension followed in April, when White House officials thought a U.S. buyout was within reach, only for partners in the Chinese mainland to withdraw after discussions faltered over new tariffs.
President Trump announced the latest 90-day reprieve on Truth Social Thursday morning, giving negotiators more runway to hammer out a plan for American ownership of TikTok.
The app, which serves more than 170 million U.S. users and supports 7.5 million U.S. businesses, has won the support of tech giants Apple, Google and Oracle. These companies agreed to keep hosting the app after assurances that the Justice Department would refrain from seeking steep fines under the same national-security law used to target TikTok.
TikTok said it was grateful for President Trump's leadership and support, noting the extension helps its 170 million U.S. users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses as it works with Vice President Vance's Office.
As the new deadline looms, all eyes are on whether a U.S.-based deal can be sealed or if the app will face its first real shutdown. For now, TikTok remains live—proof that in the digital age, policy and technology often move at very different speeds.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
