President Donald Trump has indicated that he will likely extend the TikTok ban deadline beyond June 19, the current expiration date. Trump mentioned the need for approval from China, expressing confidence that President Xi will approve the extension. TikTok faced a blackout earlier in the year when ByteDance failed to divest its U.S. assets as required by law, prompting Trump to issue executive orders extending the ban deadline. Despite this, a deal has not been reached, leading to the impending June 19 deadline.
If ByteDance does not divest by June 19, TikTok could face another ban in the U.S., with Trump signaling a willingness to extend the deadline further. The legality of Trump’s extensions lies in federal legislation allowing for a 90-day deadline extension, though Trump opted for executive orders to delay the ban by 75 days previously. The initial reason for TikTok’s potential ban stems from legislation signed by former President Joe Biden, requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok over national security concerns.
Amidst concerns that ByteDance may share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance. Trump’s potential extension of the ban deadline raises questions about the app’s future in the U.S. as the deadline approaches. Despite ByteDance denying claims of data-sharing, the failure to divest in time has put TikTok in a precarious position, with potential consequences for internet hosting services and app stores. The situation remains dynamic, with updates expected as the deadline looms.