Former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has extended TikTok’s deadline to find a U.S.-based buyer by another 90 days, delaying the ban on the popular video-sharing app until September 17, 2025.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days,” marking the third time the ban has been postponed.
A federal law demanding TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was set to take effect before Trump’s January inauguration. Despite concerns over Chinese government control of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, Trump has expressed a personal fondness for the app and a willingness to grant extensions.
“I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump told NBC News in May. The platform welcomed the extension, with TikTok issuing a statement thanking Trump for his support, highlighting the app’s 170 million U.S. users.
The Biden administration, which supported the delay, emphasized that the grace period will allow the deal to close with assurances that American user data remains secure. Analysts suggest Trump’s softened stance comes from TikTok’s importance in reaching younger voters during his 2024 campaign.
Discussions have been ongoing about a potential sale involving ByteDance and U.S. investors, including Oracle and Blackstone, to create an independent global TikTok entity. However, concerns remain over key elements such as TikTok’s algorithm, which industry experts say is central to the app’s success.
Despite the regulatory uncertainty, TikTok continues to innovate. Earlier this week, it unveiled “Symphony,” a suite of AI tools designed to help advertisers create video content from text or images.
