President Donald Trump has again extended the deadline for TikTok to divest its U.S. assets, marking the third such delay in enforcing the 2024 law. This 90-day extension comes as Beijing reportedly uses the popular short-form video app as leverage in ongoing trade negotiations.
While the law has prohibited companies from supporting or hosting TikTok online since January 19, Trump has repeatedly granted extensions, citing a pending deal. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Tuesday that the administration will use this extension to finalize a deal ensuring the safety and security of American user data.
A previously reported deal to sell TikTok stalled earlier this year due to U.S.-China trade tensions. According to a source, Beijing instructed ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to halt the agreement after the U.S. imposed reciprocal tariffs on China.
Despite growing frustration among congressional Republicans over the repeated extensions, most are still allowing President Trump room to negotiate. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) expressed his desire for the ban to be enforced, stating, “We voted that it should be banned, and I look forward to the day that they can’t continue to propagate Chinese talking points.” However, few lawmakers have publicly voiced their concerns, with Representative John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), head of the House select committee on China, being a notable exception, having previously advocated for complete divestment from Beijing.
