In a dramatic turn of events that underscores the fragile future of TikTok in the United States, President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day extension to keep the platform operational while negotiations over its American ownership continue.
“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” confirmed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark.”
This extension comes at a pivotal moment. A deal that would have shifted majority control of TikTok’s U.S. operations into American hands was nearly finalized earlier this year. However, it stalled after Trump introduced a new wave of tariffs on Chinese imports in April, complicating negotiations and prompting a 75-day grace period that was set to expire on June 19.
ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, responded to the delay by stressing that any final agreement would still need to meet Chinese regulatory standards. The company also hinted that the most sensitive aspect of the deal TikTok’s algorithm would likely be non-negotiable. Chinese officials have suggested that the algorithm, widely seen as the app’s competitive edge, cannot be part of any sale.
The 90-day reprieve raises fresh questions about the future of TikTok in the U.S. and whether an agreement that satisfies all sides including China can actually be reached. President Trump appeared optimistic earlier this week, telling reporters that he believes a deal will eventually win Chinese government approval. “I think President Xi will ultimately approve it, yes,” he said. Still, with Beijing tight-lipped on the matter, the outcome remains uncertain.
For President Trump, the TikTok saga marks a significant shift from his earlier stance. He initially sought to ban the app during his first term, citing national security concerns. However, he later reversed course, reportedly after using the platform himself. In a notable public gesture, TikTok CEO Shou Chew attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration, seated alongside key Cabinet members and tech leaders an indication of the app’s strategic and political importance.
For now, millions of American users can breathe a sigh of relief. TikTok lives on for at least another 90 days. But behind the scenes, the clock is ticking, and the world is watching.
