The deadline for TikTok‘s parent company ByteDance to divest interest in the social media app to a non-China based company has been extended again by executive order of President Donald Trump.
Thursday morning’s order marks the third time that Trump has extended TikTok‘s deadline by 90 days since taking office on January 20, 2025. The day before was the deadline set in legislation signed into law by then-President Joe Biden in April 2024 that ByteDance must sell TikTok or face the social media application’s prohibition in the United States.
“Once again, the Trump Administration is flouting the law and ignoring its own national security findings about the risks posed by a PRC-controlled TikTok. An executive order can’t sidestep the law, but that’s exactly what the president is trying to do,” said Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner of Virginia.
Warner, a former technology entrepreneur has repeatedly warned of national security concerns caused by the fact that TikTok is owned by a company based in China, and therefore susceptible to influence by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which is governed by the Communist Party. China could ask ByteDance at any time to share data of American users of TikTok.
TikTok praised Trump’s order, as reported by The Associated Press.
“We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on the platform as we continue to work with Vice President Vance’s Office,” the company said in a statement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday that Trump’s extension is so a deal can be made.
“It’s wildly popular. He also wants to protect Americans’ data and privacy concerns on this app. And he believes we can do both at the same time,” Leavitt said.
While other executive orders by Trump have faced legal challenges, orders regarding TikTok so far have not. Trump credits TikTok, on which he has acquired 15 million followers since 2024, as helping him reach young voters and win the presidential election in November 2024. In January, he said he has a “warm spot for TikTok.”
With 170 million American users, TikTok appears unconcerned, according to tech experts, of any deadline sticking and no guarantee exists that Trump will eventually uphold the ban.
One third of Americans expressed support of TikTok in a recent Pew Research Center survey. In March 2023, 50 percent more of responders supported the ban. Eight in 10 said they were concerned that TikTok could risk user data.
Support AFP
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
