President Trump has announced that he will extend the deadline for TikTok to comply with a federal law that could ban the app in the U.S. This decision comes five months after the law was set to take effect, which requires TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
During a press briefing at the White House, Trump stated, "We’ll be extending it. We’re going to extend it," indicating that he plans to make a deal that will likely need approval from China. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump would sign an executive order within the week to keep TikTok operational. This order will provide a 90-day extension while the administration works on finalizing a deal.
This move follows a significant meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in London, where both sides discussed ways to revive stalled trade negotiations. TikTok has not yet commented on the extension.
This is not the first time Trump has intervened on behalf of TikTok. Last year, Congress passed a law banning the app due to concerns that it could be used for spying or influence by the Chinese government. TikTok has fought this ban, arguing it violates free speech rights, but the Supreme Court upheld the law.
The initial ban was scheduled to start on January 19, 2025. Just before it was set to go into effect, TikTok removed itself from app stores. However, the day after, Trump pledged to pause the enforcement of the ban, allowing TikTok to return online.
On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an executive order that delayed the ban by 75 days and provided protections for tech companies that support TikTok, such as Apple and Google. In April, a potential deal was in the works that would have allowed U.S. companies to take a majority stake in TikTok, but it fell through after Trump imposed high tariffs on China and made changes in his administration.
Legal experts have raised concerns about Trump’s repeated extensions, suggesting they may violate the law that governs the ban. The law allows only one 90-day extension under specific conditions. Ryan Calo, a law professor, noted that Trump seems to be operating outside the intent of Congress, which could set a troubling precedent.
Despite these legal concerns, Trump insists he is acting within the law. He expressed confidence about the legal basis for the extension, stating, "Yeah, sure. Yeah, we do."
Meanwhile, the situation remains uncertain for companies that continue to support TikTok. They face risks since the app is technically banned under current law. Apple and Google have restored TikTok to their app stores, but they have not commented on the latest developments regarding the app’s status.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the negotiations between the U.S. and China and whether they will lead to a resolution that allows TikTok to continue operating in America.