Will the third time be the charm for TikTok's future? With another extension deadline in two weeks, the social media platform's future lies in the hands of President Donald Trump.
In January, TikTok went dark for 12 hours in the United States when China-based ByteDance failed to divest the app’s U.S. assets, as required by law. Since coming into office on Jan. 20, Trump issued two executive orders to extend the ban’s deadline, hoping to acquire the short-form video app used by 170 million Americans. But so far, a deal has yet to be struck. The next deadline is June 19.
A plan had been in the works that would spin off TikTok’s American operation into a new firm owned and operated by U.S. investors, but was put on hold, according to Reuters, after China would not approve it following Trump’s announcements of steep tariffs on its goods.
During an NBC News interview in May, Trump said he would extend the deadline a third time if a deal isn’t made by the June 19 deadline.
“I’d like to see it done,” Trump said during the interview. The president added that he has a “little sweet spot” in his heart for TikTok, which he claims helped him win votes during the 2024 presidential election. “It’ll be protected. It’ll be very strongly protected. But if it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension.”
