As President Trump prepares to extend the deadline for a potential TikTok ban or sale, the popular video-sharing app ensures it will remain in operation for at least three more months. This decision follows a series of earlier extensions and highlights ongoing tensions surrounding data privacy and international relations.
Trump's New TikTok Ban Extension: What It Means for Users and Investors
Trump's New TikTok Ban Extension: What It Means for Users and Investors
The White House announces President Trump will sign an executive order to extend the deadline for a TikTok sale or ban, reassuring American users.
The White House announced that President Trump will sign an Executive Order this week, extending the sale or ban deadline for TikTok for a third time. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that this move aims to allow TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, to continue operating in the U.S., alleviating concerns regarding data safety for American users.
Originally, TikTok was set to face a ban in the U.S. after ByteDance failed to comply with a sale request by January. However, Trump's extension will give stakeholders additional time to negotiate, with Leavitt emphasizing that the 90-day prolongation is intended to ensure user data is protected during this transitional period.
Trump has previously indicated he believes he can obtain approval from Chinese authorities regarding any sale, stating, “We’ll probably have to get China approval... I think we’ll get it.” His assertion of legal authority to extend the deadline comes in the face of bipartisan Congressional actions from last year, when lawmakers pushed for the sale-or-ban measure citing fears that TikTok could be utilized for espionage by the Chinese government.
Despite such political pressures, TikTok's management remains optimistic about the app's future in the U.S. They recently unveiled new AI features at a festival in Cannes, signaling confidence amidst the uncertainty. Analysts, including Kelsey Chickering from Forrester, express skepticism about the prospect of a real ban following Trump's decisions, perceiving TikTok's recent innovations as evidence of its stability.
Negotiations surrounding the ownership structure of TikTok are still ongoing, with various bidders, including tech giant Oracle and a group led by notable entrepreneurs such as Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary, expressing interest. Even social media sensation MrBeast has been linked to potential acquisition efforts.
As the timeline unfolds, one thing remains clear: the vocal community of TikTok users, numbering about 170 million in the U.S. alone, is set to keep creating and sharing content for the foreseeable future.
Originally, TikTok was set to face a ban in the U.S. after ByteDance failed to comply with a sale request by January. However, Trump's extension will give stakeholders additional time to negotiate, with Leavitt emphasizing that the 90-day prolongation is intended to ensure user data is protected during this transitional period.
Trump has previously indicated he believes he can obtain approval from Chinese authorities regarding any sale, stating, “We’ll probably have to get China approval... I think we’ll get it.” His assertion of legal authority to extend the deadline comes in the face of bipartisan Congressional actions from last year, when lawmakers pushed for the sale-or-ban measure citing fears that TikTok could be utilized for espionage by the Chinese government.
Despite such political pressures, TikTok's management remains optimistic about the app's future in the U.S. They recently unveiled new AI features at a festival in Cannes, signaling confidence amidst the uncertainty. Analysts, including Kelsey Chickering from Forrester, express skepticism about the prospect of a real ban following Trump's decisions, perceiving TikTok's recent innovations as evidence of its stability.
Negotiations surrounding the ownership structure of TikTok are still ongoing, with various bidders, including tech giant Oracle and a group led by notable entrepreneurs such as Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary, expressing interest. Even social media sensation MrBeast has been linked to potential acquisition efforts.
As the timeline unfolds, one thing remains clear: the vocal community of TikTok users, numbering about 170 million in the U.S. alone, is set to keep creating and sharing content for the foreseeable future.
