Trump Issues Another 90-Day Delay on TikTok Ban Enforcement
President Donald Trump has again postponed the enforcement of a bipartisan law aimed at banning TikTok in the United States, marking the third delay since taking office in January 2025. The latest executive order, expected to be signed this week, grants ByteDance an additional 90 days to resolve a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is committed to keeping TikTok available to Americans while ensuring user data remains secure. “President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” she said, adding that the administration will use the extension to close a deal that separates TikTok from its China-based parent company.
Deal Stalled Over Trade War and Chinese Government Approval
Though a framework agreement had reportedly been reached in April to transfer U.S. TikTok operations to a company with majority American ownership, the deal hit a roadblock after Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Chinese goods. ByteDance responded by signaling that China would not approve the deal without resolution on trade issues.ByteDance later confirmed that no final agreement had been made and emphasized that any transaction would require the Chinese government's authorization. Trump, acknowledging the need for Beijing's cooperation, told reporters, “We’ll probably have to get China’s approval. China’s never easy.”
Still, he expressed optimism, stating, “I think President Xi will ultimately approve it,” and noted his personal connection to the platform, claiming, “I was No. 1 on TikTok in its history. Can you believe that?”
Congress Growing Impatient with Lack of Enforcement
The law banning TikTok unless ByteDance divests was passed last year with bipartisan support and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. It gave ByteDance until January 19 to complete a separation or face removal from app stores and web services. TikTok briefly shut down operations in the U.S. but resumed after Trump took office and issued the first delay.Despite national security warnings, Apple and Google only restored TikTok to their platforms weeks later. Meanwhile, there has been little action from Congress to force compliance, though frustration is mounting.
Senator Josh Hawley, a longtime critic of TikTok, remarked, “The courts have been really clear on this. I think we ought to enforce the law.”
Senator Chuck Grassley added, “I want some certainty and just to know that Congress isn't being played when we make a decision [for TikTok] to be sold.”
Trade Talks Continue, But TikTok Left Out
Although President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke earlier this month in a 90-minute call focused on trade, neither side mentioned TikTok in official summaries. Days later, trade representatives from both countries met in London and reportedly reached a framework to ease tariffs.However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before the Senate Finance Committee that TikTok was not discussed during the meetings. “I have no visibility into TikTok,” he said.
National Security Concerns Persist, But Enforcement Lags
Lawmakers have long expressed concern that TikTok, under Chinese ownership, could be used as a tool for surveillance, data collection, or propaganda. Still, with the White House repeatedly extending deadlines and offering little enforcement guidance, critics worry the administration is sending mixed signals.The current 90-day extension will expire in September unless a breakthrough is reached. Until then, TikTok’s fate remains in limbo, caught between high-stakes trade negotiations and a deeply politicized debate over tech regulation and national security.
As calls for clarity grow louder, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will finally enforce the law—or continue to delay action in pursuit of a still-elusive deal.
