Former President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for enforcing a TikTok ban in the U.S. by an additional 75 days, citing ongoing negotiations disrupted by newly announced tariffs on Chinese imports. The delay was confirmed through an executive order signed Friday, just one day before the original enforcement deadline was set to expire.
Trump’s administration had been closing in on a deal aimed at transferring the app’s U.S. operations into American hands. However, that progress hit a snag after the U.S. imposed a 34% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to step back from the agreement.
“We’ve made strong progress toward saving TikTok, but some final steps still need to be resolved,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. He added that his administration is committed to preventing the app from being banned, emphasizing his desire to “keep TikTok alive.”
The push to divest TikTok from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, stems from national security concerns about user data and potential ties to the Chinese government. Under legislation signed by President Joe Biden last year, ByteDance was given a deadline to sell its stake or face a TikTok ban in the U.S.
Trump, who returned to office in January, initially delayed enforcement of the law by 75 days, hoping to strike a deal that would meet national security requirements while preserving TikTok’s presence in the U.S. A second delay now gives all parties until mid-June to finalize an agreement.
The tentative deal on the table involves a group of American investors—including venture capital and tech firms—forming a new company to oversee TikTok’s U.S. operations. ByteDance would hold no more than a 20% stake, in compliance with legal requirements. The agreement also stipulates that TikTok’s American operations must remain independent from ByteDance’s control, particularly regarding algorithms and data usage.
Sources familiar with the talks said that as of Wednesday, all sides had agreed to the deal’s terms. However, after Trump unveiled his new tariff policy on Chinese imports, ByteDance reportedly informed the White House it could not proceed with the agreement unless tariff issues were addressed.
The White House, unsure of how the discussions would proceed, decided to extend the enforcement deadline to allow more time for negotiations.
Trump did not share specific details about the next steps, but expressed hope that China would continue discussions in “good faith.” He also noted that while China might not be pleased with the tariffs, he remained optimistic that a deal could still be reached.
This extension means TikTok’s estimated 170 million American users can continue using the app—for now. But the longer-term future of the platform remains uncertain, especially given rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade and technology.
ByteDance confirmed ongoing discussions with U.S. officials, acknowledging that while no final deal has been signed, talks are progressing. “There are still key issues to resolve, and any agreement must comply with Chinese laws,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement.
Some legal experts have raised concerns about the repeated delays. “The law provided for one possible extension based on meaningful progress. A second delay raises questions about compliance with that law and the administration’s authority,” said Carl Tobias, a legal scholar at the University of Richmond.
Meanwhile, TikTok continues to publicly support a U.S.-based solution. After briefly going offline before Trump’s inauguration in January, the app displayed a message thanking him for keeping it available to users.
The company’s CEO, Shou Chew, was even present at the inauguration ceremony, sitting alongside tech leaders and cabinet members, reflecting TikTok’s efforts to remain a player in the American market.
Analysts say the delay is consistent with Trump’s negotiation style—using high-profile issues to gain leverage in broader policy battles. “As long as TikTok’s fate is undecided, it remains a powerful bargaining chip,” said one industry expert.
