Trump Extends TikTok Sale Deadline to September Amid China Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump will extend the June 19 deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. operations by 90 days, the White House announced Tuesday. The move delays enforcement of a congressionally mandated ban that required TikTok to cease operations in the U.S. without significant progress toward a sale.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will sign a new executive order this week to keep TikTok operational, pushing the deadline to mid-September. “President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” she stated, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to ensuring American user data remains protected.

This marks the third extension since the original January 19 deadline. Trump, who began his second term in January 2025, previously postponed enforcement to April and again to June 19. The president has tied TikTok’s continued availability to its political utility, noting the app’s impact on engaging young voters during the 2024 election.

A deal to transfer TikTok’s U.S. assets to a new American-led entity had been underway earlier this year. However, progress stalled after China signaled disapproval in response to Trump's steep new tariffs on Chinese imports. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he expects China’s eventual approval of the deal, stating, “I think President Xi will ultimately approve it.”

Despite the administration’s efforts, some Democratic senators argue Trump lacks legal authority to grant further extensions and that the proposed deal may not meet legal standards for ensuring national security.

TikTok, which has over 170 million U.S. users, remains a focal point in U.S.-China tech tensions, as Washington pushes for local control to safeguard user data and reduce foreign influence over digital platforms.