President Donald Trump is considering extending the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner to divest the popular video sharing app. This potential extension would mark the third time Trump has prolonged the deadline, with the first extension occurring on his first day in office and the second in April. The initial deadline extension was prompted by a ban approved by Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, which caused the platform to briefly go dark. The second extension faltered after China backed out following Trump’s tariff announcement. Trump has expressed openness to further delays, citing the need for China’s approval.
The uncertainty looms over how many more extensions Trump may grant as negotiations for TikTok’s ownership continue. Notably, Trump has garnered a substantial following on TikTok and has acknowledged the platform’s role in connecting with young voters. Despite his previous attempts to ban TikTok, Trump has expressed fondness for the app. With the ongoing discussions and potential extensions, the fate of TikTok’s ownership remains in flux, awaiting further developments and decisions from both the U.S. government and China.
