In a move that prolongs one of the most closely watched tech standoffs in recent memory, President Donald Trump has once again extended the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations. This marks the third such extension since Trump returned to office in January 2025 and reflects the delicate balance the administration is trying to strike between national security and public popularity.
The new 90-day extension gives ByteDance until mid-September to finalize a deal that would transfer ownership of TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American buyer. The clock had been set to run out on June 19, under a law upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this year that mandates foreign-owned apps deemed a security risk must be sold or banned.
Another Lifeline for TikTok
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the extension in a statement Monday, saying President Trump would soon sign an executive order to keep TikTok running while the sale talks continue.
“President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” Leavitt said, emphasizing that the extra time is intended to secure a deal that ensures the personal data of American users stays out of foreign hands.
TikTok, wildly popular among Gen Z and millennials, boasts more than 150 million users in the U.S. alone. But its Chinese ownership has made it the focus of growing scrutiny in Washington, where officials fear that user data could be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party — something both TikTok and ByteDance have repeatedly denied.
Past Deadlines, Short Shutdowns
TikTok’s U.S. future has been uncertain for months. The original deadline for ByteDance to divest was January 19, 2025, just before Trump’s second inauguration. But as one of his first acts back in office, Trump pushed the date to April 5. A second extension came just as that deadline expired, keeping the app alive temporarily.
Earlier this year, however, TikTok did briefly disappear from American app stores after the first deadline expired without a deal. Both Apple and Google complied with the law by removing it from their platforms. But after a presidential order reinstated the app, it quickly returned to mobile devices — and hasn’t left since.
Now, with a third extension in place, Trump appears committed to keeping TikTok online while trying to reach a solution that won’t leave users or advertisers in limbo.
What’s Holding Up the Deal?
Multiple American entities have expressed interest in buying TikTok’s U.S. operations, including Oracle, mobile marketing firm AppLovin, and Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty — a group advocating for a more transparent and decentralized internet.
But even if one of these buyers strikes a deal with ByteDance, there’s still one massive hurdle: China.
Beijing has not yet signaled whether it would approve a forced sale to a U.S. company. Chinese authorities have previously opposed the idea of technology transfers under pressure from foreign governments. ByteDance is now stuck trying to satisfy U.S. demands without angering its own government — a nearly impossible diplomatic tightrope to walk.
A Political and Digital Tug-of-War
This ongoing saga isn’t just about a social media app. It’s a flashpoint in the broader U.S.-China tech war, where national security, economic power, and digital influence are all colliding.
American officials argue that TikTok poses a long-term national security threat due to its algorithmic power and user data access. ByteDance counters that all U.S. data is stored locally and managed through partnerships with American cloud providers, including Oracle.
Despite these reassurances, the Trump administration has made it clear that only a complete divestment will resolve their concerns.
Why Trump Is Hesitant to Pull the Plug
For Trump, banning TikTok outright would be politically risky. The app remains wildly popular, especially with younger voters who helped swing key states in the last election. While national security is a key pillar of Trump’s second term, so is maintaining political goodwill.
The latest extension signals a pragmatic approach — one that gives negotiators more time and avoids alienating millions of American users. It also kicks the can down the road, giving the administration space to pressure ByteDance without being forced into an immediate decision.
