White House Confirms Donald Trump Will Extend TikTok Ban Deadline: What This Means for Users

TikTok’s future in the U.S. is secure for now. President Trump is set to extend the deadline for either a sale or a ban once again. This would be the third extension this year. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, “President Trump will sign an Executive Order soon to keep TikTok running.”

The app was initially slated for a ban after its Chinese owner, ByteDance, didn’t agree to sell to an American buyer by a January deadline. Leavitt mentioned that the 90-day extension aims to ensure the deal goes through while keeping American users’ data safe.

Just days before the announcement, Trump hinted to the BBC that he would likely prolong TikTok’s existence in the U.S. He added, “I think we’ll get [China’s] approval. I think President Xi will ultimately approve it.” When questioned about his legal basis to extend the deadline, Trump was confident: “We do.”

However, this move contradicts Congress’s earlier decision. Recently, lawmakers passed a bill aimed at addressing concerns that TikTok could be a security risk, with its 170 million U.S. users potentially exposed to spying and manipulation by China. The Supreme Court supported this law just before Trump took office.

Interestingly, TikTok briefly went offline for a few hours just before Trump’s inauguration, but it returned thanks to Trump’s intervention. Back in 2020, he attempted to push a sale of TikTok to an American buyer during his previous term.

Fast forward to today—Trump seems to have a fondness for TikTok, particularly because he believes it played a role in boosting his appeal to younger voters in the upcoming presidential election. Despite polls indicating that most young voters favored the Democratic candidate, Trump claimed a “warm spot” for TikTok.

Analysts suggest that Trump’s ongoing deadline extensions point to the unlikelihood of a ban. Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, noted, “What ban? There is nothing ‘looming’ about it anymore.” She emphasized TikTok’s confidence in its future, highlighting the release of new AI video tools at Cannes recently.

While discussions about a potential deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations continue, there hasn’t been a concrete resolution. A ByteDance spokesperson remarked, “There are key matters to be resolved,” noting that any agreement would require Chinese law approval.

Trump’s openness to selling TikTok to cloud giant Oracle, with whom he has ties, raises eyebrows. Other notable figures, including Billionaire Frank McCourt and YouTuber MrBeast, have also shown interest in acquiring TikTok.

As TikTok navigates this complex situation, the debate over data security and international business practices continues. This ongoing saga reflects larger concerns about technology, privacy, and geopolitics, not just for TikTok but for many apps rooted in global connectivity. For more details on TikTok’s data practices and security measures, check the Federal Trade Commission’s official site.

Source link