JUST IN: Trump extends TikTok deadline by 90 days, defying U.S. ban

In a major policy shift, United States President Donald Trump has granted TikTok a 90-day extension, effectively delaying a nationwide ban that had loomed over the popular Chinese-owned app for months.

The decision marks a dramatic turn in the Biden-era law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a complete shutdown over national security concerns.

Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will issue a fresh Executive Order this week. The move will give ByteDance additional time to finalize a U.S.-based deal—despite bipartisan frustration on Capitol Hill.

“President Trump will sign an Executive Order to keep TikTok running,” Leavitt said. “This extension ensures a path to a secure resolution that protects Americans’ data.”

The platform, which boasts over 170 million U.S. users, had missed its January divest-or-ban deadline. Trump’s order will now give ByteDance until September to reach a deal with a U.S. buyer.

The extension directly contradicts the law passed last year by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, mandating TikTok’s sale under threat of a U.S. ban. But Trump dismissed legal constraints during an interview with the BBC:

“We do have the authority,” he insisted, adding, “I think President Xi will ultimately approve the deal.”

Trump’s shifting stance on TikTok is raising eyebrows.

While he attempted to force a sale to Oracle during his first term, he now credits the platform with helping him win the youth vote in the 2024 election—even though exit polls showed young voters favored Kamala Harris.

Interest in TikTok’s U.S. operations remains high. Frontrunner Oracle, co-founded by Trump ally Larry Ellison, is still in play. Other prospective buyers include:

• Investor Frank McCourt
• Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary
• Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian
• YouTube celebrity MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson).

However, any acquisition must clear Beijing’s strict export controls, a legal hurdle that has derailed past deals.

Despite legal posturing, analysts say a ban is unlikely.

“There is no real ban looming,” said Kelsey Chickering, principal analyst at Forrester. “TikTok is confident, and the White House knows banning it could backfire politically.”

TikTok’s latest rollout of AI-powered video tools at the Cannes Lions festival suggests a platform not just surviving, but thriving.

The app, which briefly went offline ahead of Trump’s January inauguration, has since rebounded, even publicly thanking the president for “saving the platform.”

Trump’s move may buy TikTok time, but it pits him against both the lawmakers who passed the ban and the geopolitical tensions that continue to cloud any resolution. Whether the extension ends in a sale—or another legal showdown—remains to be seen.

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