Trump Extends TikTok Deadline, Gives App 90-Day Lifeline
President Donald Trump announced Today that his administration will give TikTok another 90 days before enforcing a potential U.S. shutdown, citing the need for more time to complete national security reviews and explore divestment options.
“I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days (September 17, 2025),” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
It’s a notable pivot — or at least a pause — in what’s become one of the most high-profile tech showdowns of Trump’s second term. The short-form video platform, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has long been under fire from U.S. lawmakers over concerns that user data could be accessed or manipulated by the Chinese government. Those concerns aren’t new, but they’ve intensified amid ongoing tensions over trade, AI, and digital surveillance.
A new deadline, same old questions
This delay pushes the final decision out to mid-September — just weeks before the 2025 fiscal budget fight heats up on Capitol Hill. It also, conveniently or not, puts the spotlight back on Congress, which earlier this year passed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a national ban. That bill, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was signed into law by Trump in April.
But so far, no buyer has stepped forward with a deal the White House seems willing to accept. Some of the tech giants rumored to be interested — Oracle, Microsoft, even Walmart again — have reportedly balked at the price tag or legal risks, according to reporting from Reuters and WSJ.
Strategic ambiguity — or just buying time?
To be honest, this reminds me of the dance we saw in 2020. Trump huffed and puffed, issued executive orders, and then… well, nothing really happened. Courts blocked some moves, elections reshuffled priorities, and TikTok just kept growing. Fast-forward to now, and the political will is arguably stronger — but the logistical complexity is, too.
So, is this extension a strategic reset or just more delay? It’s not entirely clear. Trump thrives on brinkmanship, and this deadline extension lets him keep the pressure on ByteDance while maintaining leverage without pulling the plug — at least not yet.
And let’s face it, banning one of the most popular platforms among younger voters just ahead of the 2026 midterms would carry its own risks. If nothing else, Trump’s move ensures TikTok remains a political bargaining chip in the broader U.S.-China tech war.
For now, TikTok lives to scroll another day. But the clock is ticking — again.
