Trump Extends TikTok Sale Deadline by 90 Days

TikTok given third extension to avoid U.S. ban under Trump order

Tone & Political Bias: Center-leaning

Why: The report presents actions from both the Trump and Biden administrations without promoting or criticizing either, focusing strictly on policy developments.

Third Deadline Extension for ByteDance

President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an American buyer. On Thursday, Trump signed a new executive order granting the Chinese-owned app an additional 90 days, pushing the deadline to September 17, 2025.

This is the third extension since Trump took office in January. The latest move aims to prevent TikTok from being banned in the U.S. while negotiations for a sale continue.

“I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Background of the Ban

The law that mandates the sale of TikTok was passed during the Biden administration over concerns that the app poses a national security risk. That law was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and remains in force.

ByteDance, headquartered in Beijing, is required under the law to sell TikTok to a U.S.-based company or risk having the app banned in the United States. TikTok briefly went offline earlier this year, ahead of Trump’s inauguration, as part of the enforcement process. However, once Trump took office and expressed interest in keeping the app operational, it resumed service.

Trump’s Change in Approach

Trump’s current position marks a shift from his stance during his first term, when he attempted to ban TikTok outright. That ban was later blocked in court.

Now, the Trump administration appears to favor keeping the app accessible to Americans, provided it is owned by a U.S. entity.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the administration’s goal is to ensure users can continue using TikTok while securing their data.

“President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” Leavitt said. “This extension will last 90 days… so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.”

Negotiations and Bidders

ByteDance has not publicly confirmed whether it will sell TikTok. Despite interest from several potential buyers, no deal has been finalized. Before the previous April 5 deadline, companies such as Amazon, AI startup Perplexity AI, and a group led by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and investor Frank McCourt expressed interest. Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also submitted a bid.

However, after the U.S. imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, talks reportedly stalled. The administration then granted the second extension, which expired Thursday, prompting the new 90-day window.

Chinese Government’s Role

Trump stated that any sale involving TikTok will likely require approval from Chinese President Xi Jinping. ByteDance’s Beijing headquarters puts the deal under potential scrutiny from Chinese regulators.

“I think President Xi would be open to a deal,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.

User Support and Competing Platforms

TikTok remains widely popular in the U.S. with over 170 million users. A Pew Research study shows that public support for banning the app has declined. After the initial ban law passed, some users shifted to other platforms such as Chinese social media app RedNote. However, with the extension and return of TikTok, interest in RedNote has decreased.

TikTok has repeatedly denied that it poses a threat to U.S. national security and claims that American user data is not stored in China. A spokesperson for TikTok has not responded to the latest extension announcement.

Current Status

TikTok now has until September 17, 2025, to complete a sale to a U.S.-based company. Until then, the app will remain operational in the United States. The Biden-era law remains in effect, and enforcement could resume if no sale occurs by the extended deadline.