Trump Delays TikTok Ban With New 90-Day Extension, White House Says

Trump Grants TikTok a Third Reprieve, Sets New September Deadline

President Donald Trump has signed a third executive order granting TikTok another 90-day extension to find a U.S. buyer, pushing the deadline to September 17, 2025.

This comes after earlier delays in April and January. Trump’s move reflects a balancing act between national security concerns and TikTok’s massive user base.

With over 170 million American users, the app’s fate remains balanced as the administration works toward a politically acceptable resolution.

White House Confirms New Executive Order Is on the Way

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will sign a new executive order to delay TikTok’s ban this week.

She reiterated that the President “does not want TikTok to go dark,” emphasizing that the next 90 days will ensure a secure deal is finalized.

The administration’s public stance underscores the growing pressure to balance digital policy enforcement with social media’s influence over U.S. culture and politics.

TikTok Thanks Trump, Pledges Cooperation With U.S. Officials

Following Trump’s announcement, TikTok released a statement expressing gratitude for his leadership. The platform promised continued collaboration with the administration and Vice President JD Vance’s office.

TikTok highlighted its role in supporting 170 million users and 7.5 million businesses. The show of goodwill comes as the company walks a fine line between compliance and defending itself against allegations of data misuse by its Chinese parent, ByteDance.

China’s Role Looms Large Over Any TikTok Deal

Trump said China’s President Xi Jinping will “probably” have to approve any sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations.

ByteDance is headquartered in Beijing, and under Chinese law, the government must approve any foreign divestiture of core tech assets.

Previous negotiations reportedly stalled due to Trump’s new tariffs, which soured diplomatic ties. This adds another layer of complexity, as a potential deal hinges on American and Chinese cooperation.

Trump’s Tariff Strategy May Be Hindering TikTok Deal

Earlier this year, Trump hinted that China resisted a deal due to his harsh new tariffs. He openly admitted he was using tariffs as leverage in TikTok negotiations.

While the approach may strengthen his bargaining position, it has also made Beijing more reluctant to approve a sale. This back-and-forth has slowed momentum, leaving potential buyers waiting on the sidelines amid growing political risk.

TikTok’s U.S. Ban Remains Law Despite Executive Orders

Trump’s latest executive order clashes with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which required TikTok to divest by January 19, 2025.

Congress only allowed for a single 90-day extension, which has now technically exceeded. While courts upheld the law, Trump’s actions challenge its implementation.

Trump is setting up a potential legal showdown between the White House and lawmakers, especially with Democrats arguing the president is overstepping his authority.

Trump’s Evolving TikTok Stance Reflects Political Realities

During his first term, Trump called TikTok a national security threat and sought to ban it outright. But his view softened after rejoining the app while campaigning in 2024 and gaining nearly 15 million followers.

He now calls TikTok an effective tool for reaching young voters, crediting it for helping him win youth support. His reversal shows how social media influence has reshaped political strategy at the highest level.

The App Briefly Went Dark in January, Then Came Back

TikTok was briefly banned in the U.S. for around 14 hours in January, just before Trump’s inauguration. The blackout stemmed from enforcing the national security law passed under President Biden.

However, Trump quickly issued his first executive order to keep the app running, prompting Apple and Google to restore TikTok to their app stores the next day. The whiplash exposed how volatile the situation had become.

ByteDance Still Hasn’t Announced a Buyer

Despite mounting pressure, ByteDance has yet to finalize a buyer for TikTok’s U.S. operations. Talks with various groups, including Oracle, AppLovin, and billionaire Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty, failed to result in a deal.

One of the sticking points appears to be China’s regulatory stance and debates over how much control ByteDance would retain. Investors remain cautious amid political uncertainties on both sides of the Pacific.

Trump’s Allies Are Among TikTok’s Potential Buyers

Several of TikTok’s interested suitors have ties to Trump. Oracle’s Larry Ellison is a well-known supporter, and other bidders include Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s former Treasury Secretary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Even MrBeast, the world’s top YouTuber, has expressed interest in a joint bid. If a sale goes through, it could be as much about politics and influence as it is about commerce and data.

TikTok Advertising Spend Remains Surprisingly Resilient

Despite looming bans, advertisers haven’t abandoned TikTok. Data shows that ad spend dipped before the original January deadline but rebounded quickly. In April and May, spending remained stable, with only minor fluctuations.

Brands appear to be betting that TikTok will survive the regulatory battle and continue reaching its massive Gen Z audience. The shift reflects increasing advertiser confidence in the platform’s long-term presence.

TikTok’s Share of Ad Traffic Holds Steady Amid Uncertainty

MikMak data shows TikTok’s share of advertising traffic has averaged around 14% recently, with spikes around key dates. While slightly down from Q1, the decline is minimal, suggesting brands aren’t pulling away en masse.

Meta has gained some ground (+2.9%), but TikTok still dominates engagement and trendsetting. For many advertisers, TikTok remains too valuable to ignore, even with unresolved regulatory issues.

TikTok Keeps Innovating With New AI Tools

Even amid political chaos, TikTok is pushing forward with tech innovation. Cannes unveiled a new “Symphony” suite of AI tools that helps brands create video content using text or photos.

Analysts say this move shows TikTok isn’t operating like a company worried about a ban. The platform’s aggressive development and launch cycles reflect internal confidence that it will ultimately prevail in the U.S.

Support for a TikTok Ban Is Fading Among Americans

Polls from Pew Research Center show that support for banning TikTok has declined significantly since early 2024. Many Americans, especially younger users, see the app as a vital cultural and business platform.

TikTok’s influence on small businesses and political campaigns has made it harder for lawmakers to justify banning it outright. Trump’s repeated extensions may reflect this shifting public sentiment.

Trump Still Believes TikTok Will Sell Eventually

Trump remains confident that TikTok’s U.S. business will find a buyer. He’s publicly stated that several parties are prepared to offer “a lot of money,” and that he believes the deal will get China’s approval.

Whether that confidence is warranted remains to be seen, but Trump is betting that the longer the app remains online, the more pressure will mount on ByteDance to sell.

And if a sale does happen, the next question might be even bigger: Could Perplexity be TikTok’s surprise successor?

Until Then, TikTok Marches On

With no deal in place and the ban now delayed again, TikTok continues to operate as usual. Its user base is growing, its ad revenue is surging, and its tech innovations keep coming.

Trump’s extensions have given the platform breathing room and possibly a long-term foothold in the U.S. market. While the future remains uncertain, TikTok is far from down and out. It might just be winning.

Curious how TikTok pulled ahead? Even Meta’s top execs had to admit they were losing ground.

Do you think extending the ban would help Trump achieve his objectives? Is this a bold move yet? Please share your thoughts and drop a comment.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.