Former President Donald Trump announced a 75-day extension for TikTok to secure new American ownership, delaying enforcement of a congressional ban that would have barred the popular social media platform from operating in the United States.
The executive order comes as several prominent figures and companies, including Amazon, MrBeast, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have expressed interest in acquiring stakes in the platform.
"My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress," Trump stated on his social media platform, emphasizing the need for additional time to finalize necessary approvals.
ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, confirmed ongoing discussions about a "potential solution" with the U.S. government but noted that no agreement has been executed yet. The company maintains that any deal would require approval under Chinese law.
The extension raises questions about national security concerns that prompted the original congressional ban. Cybersecurity expert Chris Pierson points out that if ByteDance retains control of TikTok's algorithm, the underlying risks remain unchanged.
Content creators on the platform express mixed reactions to the announcement. Terrell Wade, a comedian with 1.5 million followers, describes the recurring deadline extensions as "exhausting," while continuing to diversify his presence across other social media platforms.
Recent polling from Pew Research Center indicates shifting public opinion, with approximately one-third of Americans supporting a ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Another third oppose the ban, while the remaining third remain undecided.
Legal experts question the validity of Trump's executive order, noting that it appears to circumvent the congressional mandate. Alan Rozenshtein, an associate law professor at the University of Minnesota, argues that Trump's action represents a "unilateral non-enforcement declaration" rather than a legal extension.
As negotiations continue, TikTok's fate in the United States remains uncertain, with potential buyers positioning themselves for what could be one of the most notable tech acquisitions in recent history.