Trump Extends TikTok Sale Deadline, Averting US Ban for 90 Days

Washington D.C. - Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a decree granting a 90-day extension for ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its operations in the United States. This decision, announced on Thursday, pushes the deadline for the sale to September 17, 2025, and aims to prevent the popular social media application from being banned in the country. The move marks another chapter in the ongoing debate surrounding TikTok's presence in the U.S., driven by concerns over data security and potential influence from the Chinese government. President Trump, in a statement on his Truth Social platform, confirmed the extended deadline. This is not the first time the former president has intervened in the TikTok situation. He had previously postponed the enforcement of a law requiring ByteDance to relinquish control of the platform twice, each time for a period of 75 days. In response to the decree, TikTok issued a statement expressing its gratitude. The company thanked President Trump for his “leadership and support,” acknowledging that his decision made it possible for the platform to “remain available” in the United States. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, had previously indicated that Trump's stance was “he doesn't want TikTok to disappear.”