In a dramatic move that extends the fate of TikTok in the United States, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, granting the embattled social media giant an additional 75 days before it faces a potential ban or forced sale. The extension comes as Trump’s administration continues to negotiate terms for a deal that would allow TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. without disrupting its massive user base, which boasts roughly 170 million American users.
The Ticking Clock and Trump’s Negotiations
The original deadline for TikTok’s sale, set for January 19, 2024, was imposed by a 2024 law requiring the Chinese-owned company to either sell its U.S. operations or face a shutdown. However, President Trump asserted that the timing of the law interfered with his administration’s ability to broker a deal to keep TikTok alive on American soil. In a social media post, Trump highlighted the significant progress his administration has made, though he acknowledged that more work is needed to finalize a resolution.
“We’ve made tremendous progress on a deal, but more work remains to get all the necessary approvals,” Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social. “This is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days. We are working in good faith with China to reach a resolution.”
