In a significant move, former US President Donald Trump announced that TikTok will be allowed to continue operating in the United States for an additional 75 days. This extension, granted via an executive order, aims to provide more time for negotiating a deal that could bring the Chinese-owned social media platform under American ownership.
Congress had originally mandated that TikTok be divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance by January 19 or face a ban in the US, citing national security risks. However, Trump bypassed this deadline, extending TikTok’s operations through the weekend in an effort to allow continued negotiations.
Despite numerous US companies expressing interest in acquiring TikTok, ByteDance—the Beijing-based tech giant that owns the platform—has remained firm on not selling the app or its proprietary algorithm. The company’s resistance has made negotiations more complex, even as pressure from US lawmakers continues to mount.
On his social media platform, Trump stated, “My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress.” He emphasized that the deal still requires further approvals, prompting the decision to sign the executive order granting a 75-day reprieve.
While the US government remains wary of potential data sharing between TikTok and the Chinese government, both TikTok and China’s Foreign Ministry have attempted to reassure users and officials. TikTok maintains it prioritizes user privacy and safety, while China has denied that it instructs companies to hand over foreign user data.
TikTok, which operates headquarters in Singapore and Los Angeles, has consistently argued for its independence from Chinese government influence. ByteDance, its parent company, insists that neither TikTok nor its data has ever been compromised or shared unlawfully with any government.
Although Trump’s order buys time, negotiations remain tense. The sale of a majority stake in TikTok to a US-based company would require approval from various regulatory authorities, as well as cooperation from ByteDance. Several tech firms have expressed interest in acquiring or investing in TikTok, but no definitive agreement has been reached.
As TikTok’s user base continues to grow in the United States, the future of the app hangs in the balance. The 75-day extension offers a temporary solution, but unless a deal is finalized soon, the platform could still face a full ban based on unresolved national security concerns.