President Trump has chosen to extend the deadline for ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok operations by an additional 90 days, bringing the total extensions to three since his inauguration. This move is intended to avoid a forced TikTok shutdown amid ongoing negotiations with potential buyers such as Oracle and Project Liberty. The White House has issued a statement confirming that the executive order will be signed to maintain TikTok’s availability while the administration seeks to secure a deal for data security and privacy reasons.
ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, initially faced a deadline of January 19 to comply with the national security law, which the Supreme Court upheld shortly after Trump’s second inauguration. However, Trump’s first executive order pushed the deadline to April 5, and a second extension was issued shortly before that date. Trump has consistently expressed his intent to prevent a TikTok ban and has vowed to extend the timeline if necessary. His latest decision underscores his commitment to safeguarding American data interests while navigating concerns over foreign ownership of a major social media platform.
The ongoing negotiations with Oracle and Project Liberty are critical to the outcome of the situation, as both entities have been identified as potential buyers by the U.S. government. The extension provides more time for these talks to conclude, which could have significant financial implications for ByteDance, Oracle, and other stakeholders. The administration’s stance highlights a broader debate over technology regulation, national security, and the balance between economic interests and foreign policy objectives. As the situation unfolds, the outcome could shape future regulatory approaches to tech companies with international operations.