U.S. President Donald Trump has officially granted a 90-day extension to China-based ByteDance to finalize the divestment of TikTok’s U.S. operations, pushing the deadline to mid-September. This decision comes despite a congressional mandate requiring TikTok’s sale or shutdown due to unresolved national security concerns surrounding American users’ data.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that President Trump will issue a new executive order later this week to prevent the shutdown of TikTok in the United States. The move marks Trump’s third reprieve on the enforcement of the law, which originally demanded a resolution by January 19, 2025.

“President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” Leavitt said, stressing that the administration aims to ensure American users retain access to the app with strong data protections in place. “We will use these next three months to finalize the sale and ensure that Americans can continue using TikTok safely.”

A Political Shift Drives Policy

The extension underscores a dramatic shift in Trump’s policy position since his initial aggressive stance against TikTok in his first term. While concerns over Chinese data surveillance and national security remain central to the administration’s reasoning, political motivations are also at play.

In May, Trump openly acknowledged TikTok’s role in helping him connect with younger voters during the 2024 presidential election. That electoral influence appears to be a key factor behind his willingness to give ByteDance additional time to divest.

While traveling aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, the president responded affirmatively when asked whether he would again delay enforcement of the ban.

“Probably, yeah,” Trump said. “Probably have to get China approval but I think we’ll get it. I think President Xi will ultimately approve it.”

Legislative and Diplomatic Pressure

The law at the center of the dispute mandated that ByteDance must either complete the sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets or show significant progress toward a transaction by January 19, 2025. Failing that, the company would face a forced shutdown of the app in the U.S.

Although the law was passed under the previous Congress, Trump—who began his second term on January 20—opted not to enforce it. Instead, he granted two earlier extensions: one in April and another in May, which deferred the deadline to June 19.

By postponing enforcement once again, Trump’s administration appears committed to finding a negotiated solution rather than pursuing an outright ban, which could alienate millions of TikTok users and further escalate tensions with China.

Stalled Deal and the Tariff Factor

In the early months of 2025, a potential deal was in motion to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a newly formed, American-owned entity. This proposed firm would have been majority-controlled and operated by U.S. investors to alleviate security concerns. However, progress was abruptly halted after China signaled it would not approve the plan.

The Chinese government’s resistance came shortly after Trump proposed steep new tariffs on Chinese imports, a move that reignited economic friction between the two superpowers. The tariff announcement was perceived as a provocation in Beijing, prompting Chinese officials to withhold consent for the ByteDance divestment.

Nevertheless, Trump has attempted to balance this hardline trade approach with diplomacy. In March, he publicly stated his willingness to ease tariffs if doing so would help close a deal with ByteDance to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations into American hands.

“We’re prepared to reduce the pressure if it gets the job done,” Trump said at the time.

National Security and Tech Sovereignty

U.S. lawmakers and intelligence officials have long warned that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses significant national security risks. They argue that ByteDance, under China’s strict data-sharing laws, could be compelled to hand over American users’ personal data to the Chinese Communist Party.

Despite ByteDance’s repeated denials and efforts to firewall TikTok’s U.S. data through initiatives like “Project Texas”—a plan to store U.S. user data on servers located in the United States—these concerns have not been fully resolved.

The Trump administration’s extended deadline offers a window of opportunity to broker a solution that preserves user access to the app while ensuring data security. But critics warn that continued delays could signal to adversaries that U.S. tech policy can be bent for political convenience.

TikTok’s Future Hangs in the Balance

With over 170 million American users, TikTok has grown into a digital juggernaut—especially among younger generations. Its content, driven by short-form videos and algorithmic recommendations, has become deeply embedded in U.S. culture, politics, and commerce.

Now, as ByteDance faces another three-month countdown, pressure is mounting from all sides to reach a resolution. If a deal does not materialize by the new September deadline, Trump may face renewed criticism for failing to enforce a law he previously championed.

Meanwhile, negotiations will continue behind closed doors—under the watchful eyes of regulators, lawmakers, and an increasingly global user base.

What’s Next?

The next phase of the TikTok saga hinges on whether ByteDance can finalize a sale structure that satisfies both U.S. national security demands and receives Beijing’s approval. At the same time, the White House must navigate its competing goals: maintaining a tough posture on China while avoiding the political fallout of banning a popular app.

As the September deadline approaches, observers expect heightened diplomacy, corporate maneuvering, and likely, further legal and legislative challenges.

In the end, the ultimate outcome of TikTok’s U.S. operations may reveal just how far both countries are willing to go in this new era of digital sovereignty and political influence.