U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a third 90-day extension for TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer, delaying enforcement of a law that would ban the app over national security concerns. The decision signals a sharp reversal from Trump’s earlier support for an outright ban and comes amid speculation that the platform played a key role in his success with young voters during the 2024 election.
“President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “He does not want TikTok to go dark.”
The extension buys more time for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to finalize a potential sale. Possible buyers include existing U.S. investors and new partners like Oracle and Blackstone, with Oracle already hosting much of TikTok’s U.S. data infrastructure.
Trump hinted earlier this year that he had “a little warm spot” for TikTok, calling it a cultural force and downplaying security concerns. “If it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension,” he said in May.
Trump’s softened stance contrasts sharply with national security warnings in Washington and the Supreme Court’s January ruling upholding the law that would effectively ban the app. ByteDance, meanwhile, has yet to secure a deal, citing unresolved issues and the need for Chinese regulatory approval.
Experts warn that TikTok’s future hinges on more than just ownership. Its algorithm — widely considered the app’s core competitive edge — is unlikely to be part of any deal.
“TikTok without its algorithm is like Harry Potter without his wand — it’s simply not as powerful,” said Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering.
Despite the uncertainty, TikTok continues to innovate, launching a new “Symphony” suite of generative AI tools for advertisers this week.
Trump’s latest move reflects his broader strategy of combining national security rhetoric with electoral calculus. Analyst Rob Enderle noted: “Unless they get on his bad side, TikTok is probably going to be in pretty good shape.”
