Trump postpones TikTok prohibition cutoff date for the third instance
Trump's latest move sees him extending the deadline for TikTok's sale to a U.S. company by another three months, putting off any potential ban from the country until September 17. The President shared the news on his Truth Social platform.
The Chinese-owned video-sharing app, ByteDance, has until the new date to seal a deal with an American buyer. Trump had previously mulled over the idea of a longer extension, suggesting that China's approval might be necessary.
The extension came as welcome news for TikTok, who released a statement expressing gratitude towards the President. The move is seen as a step that ensures the app continues to function for its 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on it.
This is the third time Trump has granted an extension for the platform since it proved beneficial for him in the 2024 election. Initially, a congressionally mandated ban was to take effect in January, but the app saw a brief shutdown before Trump intervened.
The President has voiced national security concerns over TikTok, suggesting it could grant China access to a vast pool of American user data. TikTok, however, denies posing any security risks and claims that American data from the app is not stored in China.
Trump's stance on the app has softened since his first term, when he attempted to ban it outright. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt assured that the extension will give the administration time to ensure the deal is closed, ensuring user data remains safe and secure.
Despite concerns over Chinese access to their data, users appear largely unfazed. During TikTok's brief shutdown in January, many switched to the Chinese social media app RedNote. A survey last summer found that 41% of TikTok users would be upset if the app was banned, with the figure rising to 57% among Gen Z users.
Several potential buyers expressed interest in acquiring the social media giant ahead of the April deadline in January, including Amazon, Steven Mnuchin, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. However, tensions between the U.S. and China and Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports may have affected negotiations.
In January, Trump's initial extension order gave TikTok until April 5 to sell the app. Now, the deal is once again on the table, though time will tell if it comes to fruition.
- The extension of TikTok's sale deadline presents a chance for policy-and-legislation discussions about media business practices and potential threats to national security in war-and-conflicts.
- The general news surrounding TikTok's sale to a U.S. company, given the ongoing political tension between the two countries, is of significant interest in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation.
- Amid talks of TikTok's buyers, media attention is focused on the interplay of business interests, politics, and user preferences, with implications for both American users and U.S. business operations.
