President Donald Trump is once again extending the deadline for TikTok to spin off from its Chinese parent company, keeping the threat of a US ban at bay. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that Trump will sign an executive order this week, extending the deadline by another 90 days—pushing it into mid-September.
This latest extension allows the Trump administration to continue working towards a deal that would secure American users’ data and keep TikTok accessible in the US. “The next 90 days will be spent ensuring this deal is closed, so Americans can continue to enjoy TikTok with confidence that their data is protected,” Leavitt explained.
Originally signed on January 20th, the extension offers legal cover for TikTok’s US service providers—who face potential penalties under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversaries Act if they keep the app available. However, since these extensions aren’t officially codified into law—despite broad bipartisan support in Congress and a Supreme Court ruling—the legal standing remains uncertain.
As previously reported, ByteDance was close to a deal with Oracle and other US partners back in April, but Trump’s tariffs abruptly derailed those negotiations. While US-China trade tensions have eased somewhat, there’s been little recent progress on reviving that deal or finding an alternative. A key sticking point remains whether China would permit ByteDance to sell its core algorithm—crucial for TikTok’s video recommendations—raising questions about the true control over the platform.
Many lawmakers, including critics of the ban or divestment law, have voiced skepticism about Trump’s repeated extensions. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner called the last extension “against the law,” emphasizing that the “algorithm must move out of Beijing’s hands” for any resolution to be meaningful.
Prior to the latest extension, other senators warned that continuing to delay enforcement risks legal complications and potential liability for US tech companies like Apple, Google, and Oracle. These companies have been relying on assurances from the administration that they won’t be sued for hosting TikTok past the deadline. However, legal experts suggest that court challenges could emerge if someone chooses to sue over the legality of these extensions—though so far, no lawsuits have been filed.
Recently, a Google shareholder filed a lawsuit against the company for allegedly withholding internal records about its decision to continue supporting TikTok despite legal uncertainties. The same shareholder also sued the Department of Justice for not enforcing laws related to tech companies’ compliance.
While some members of Trump’s party have stopped short of calling these extensions illegal, many still emphasize the importance of following US law. A group of House Republicans urged the administration to ensure that Chinese access to American user data is prevented and that content manipulation is stopped. Senator Josh Hawley even argued that Trump should enforce the law and ban TikTok outright, dismissing the idea of indefinite extensions as unviable.
Ultimately, it remains unclear what will prevent Trump from approving extended deadlines indefinitely or striking a deal that sidesteps legal requirements. As Hawley pointed out, “Congress doesn’t have an enforcement arm of its own,” highlighting the ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US.
