Trump to Extend TikTok Ban Deadline Indefinitely for a Buyer

Photo Credit: Solen Feyissa

Trump calls national security concerns around TikTok and its Chinese parent overrated, saying he’ll keep extending the deadline until there’s a buyer.

On Friday, President Trump said he intends to keep extending the deadline by which TikTok must divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, until there’s a suitable buyer. Congress approved a federal ban on TikTok last year unless its parent company sold its controlling stake to a U.S.-based buyer. But Trump has thus far extended the deadline three times since his second term began.

“We’re gonna watch the security concerns,” Trump told reporters. “We have buyers—American buyers,” he said, adding that “until the complexity of things works out, we just extend a little bit longer.”

The so-called “complexity” largely stems from ByteDance’s reported unwillingness to sell the U.S. stake of the highly popular social video platform, especially in light of Trump’s steep tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.

Trump’s first extension came in the form of an executive order on January 20, his first day back in office. The platform had gone dark briefly when a national ban, approved by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court, took effect the day before.

The second extension was in April, when White House officials claimed they were nearing a deal to turn TikTok’s U.S. assets into a new company with U.S. ownership. That deal fell apart following Trump’s tariff announcement. The next extension will arrive on September 17, the date of the latest deadline.

Trump initially supported banning the Chinese-owned platform during his first presidential term but has since changed his tune on TikTok once he believed the platform was integral to his success among young voters.

“I used TikTok in the campaign,” said Trump. “I’m a fan of TikTok. […] My kids like TikTok. Young people love TikTok. If we could keep it going.”

Trump’s remarks follow the White House inexplicably creating an official TikTok account earlier this week.

While it becomes increasingly apparent that a TikTok ban isn’t coming anytime soon, the decision to extend the deadline through an executive order has been the subject of criticism. Some lawmakers have asserted that the move is an abuse of power the office of president does not possess—but the administration has yet to face a legal challenge in court over it.

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