Trump Signs 75-Day Extension to TikTok Ban Deadline Amid U.S. Ownership Negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order granting TikTok an additional 75 days to continue operations in the United States, extending the timeline for a potential deal that would shift control of the app to an American entity. The move temporarily halts enforcement of a law mandating the Chinese-owned platform be divested or face a nationwide ban on national security grounds.

The original deadline, set for January 19 under a bipartisan law passed in 2024, required TikTok’s parent company, China-based ByteDance, to relinquish control of the app. While the law had been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court as a national security imperative, Trump’s latest intervention marks the second time he has delayed its enforcement.

In a statement posted on his social media platform, Trump said his administration had made “tremendous progress” in brokering a deal to preserve TikTok’s U.S. presence. “My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK,” he wrote. “The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.”

The extension provides more time for negotiations between ByteDance and potential American investors or technology firms interested in acquiring a stake in TikTok or assuming operational control. However, despite mounting pressure, ByteDance has reiterated that TikTok — including its closely-guarded recommendation algorithm — is not for sale.

TikTok, which operates global headquarters in Singapore and Los Angeles, has repeatedly denied any improper data sharing or security risks. The company maintains that user privacy and safety remain core priorities. China’s Foreign Ministry also weighed in, insisting that Beijing “has never and will not ask companies to collect or provide data, information or intelligence located overseas.”

Nevertheless, critics argue that unless TikTok’s powerful algorithm is fully removed from ByteDance’s control, national security concerns will remain unresolved. Lawmakers from both parties have emphasized that foreign control over U.S. user data poses unacceptable risks, particularly when associated with adversarial governments.

With the 75-day clock now ticking, the future of one of the world’s most popular social media platforms remains uncertain. Whether a deal materializes that satisfies U.S. security demands while preserving TikTok’s operation in its current form will be a test of both diplomatic and business acumen — and of Trump’s ability to navigate a complex geopolitical tech standoff.