TikTok Ban Latest: Trump Will Extend Deadline By Another 90 Days

TikTok will continue to live on in the United States until at least mid-September. The TikTok ban still looms over the app’s US operation, but The White House has said it will delay the enforcement of the law for another 90 days. That means the new deadline for TikTok to reach a deal is set for September 17.

“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, told CNN. 

This is the third extension so far with the second pause set to expire on Thursday, June 19. The two previous extensions were issued in January and April, which both lasted for 75 days each. It’s unclear when Trump will sign the executive order, but it’s likely to happen before the end of Thursday to ensure the app doesn’t cease operations in the US.

“As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” Leavitt said. “This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.”

Back in January, TikTok was taken down in the US for around half a day before Trump promised he wouldn’t immediately enforce the law, allowing the app’s owner ByteDance to reinstate its services. 

The TikTok ban was suggested by Trump during his first term as President, but his opinion on the app has since changed. In May this year, he said during an interview with NBC, “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok.”

The ongoing TikTok ban was brought in by US lawmakers who have said its ownership by a Chinese company makes it as national security threat. The TikTok ban says the US operations of the app must be sold to another company or face a ban. It’s unclear which company will buy this element of TikTok, but the ban says it must be a firm that the US doesn’t consider to be controlled by a “foreign adversary.”

It’s thought that a deal was close to completion back in April. ByteDance said at the time, “There are key matters to be resolved. Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law.” Some sources have said that the introduction of strict tariffs from the US on trade with China meant the deal fell apart.

For now, you’ll be able to continue using TikTok through to at least the middle of September. It’s unclear what will happen next, but a third extension to the ban shows the US government doesn’t want to see the app enter another blackout period.

About James Peckham

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I’ve written tech news for over a decade, and as a Reporter at PCMag, I cover the latest developments across the gadgets and services you use every day. Previously, I worked for Android Police, TechRadar, and more.

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