President Donald Trump has prolonged the deadline for TikTok’s sale within the US for an additional 90 days.
The video-sharing app has confronted questions over its future after the US handed a legislation final 12 months requiring the app to be banned until offered by its Chinese language dad or mum firm, ByteDance.
Lawmakers mentioned it posed a threat to nationwide safety – one thing TikTok denies.
Trump, who vowed to save lots of TikTok throughout his presidential marketing campaign, signed an executive order on Thursday which has delayed the date for imposing the legislation for a 3rd time.
In a press release, TikTok mentioned it was “grateful for President Trump’s management and help” in holding the app on-line for its 170m US customers.
“We proceed to work with Vice President Vance’s Workplace,” it added.
A deal for the sale of TikTok within the US by ByteDance should now be reached by 17 September, Trump mentioned in a submit on his platform Fact Social.
The additional delay was an anticipated improvement within the long-running strategy of securing a purchaser for TikTok.
It’s thought the authorities in Beijing might want to approve any sale or half sale of the app by its dad or mum firm.
The legislation was prompted by fears within the US that TikTok or ByteDance could possibly be pressured at hand over information on US customers by the Chinese language authorities.
Trump mentioned on Tuesday he anticipated there could be an additional delay.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday {that a} additional 90-day extension would “guarantee this deal is closed in order that the American individuals can proceed to make use of TikTok with the reassurance that their information is secure and safe.”
Trump tried to drive a sale of TikTok to an American purchaser in 2020, throughout his first time period in workplace.
However final 12 months, he signalled he’d had a change of coronary heart, saying the platform had helped him win the 2024 presidential election.
“I’ve a heat spot in my coronary heart for TikTok, as a result of I gained youth by 34 factors,” Trump mentioned in December, though most younger voters backed the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
The legislation was purported to take impact on 19 January, a day earlier than Trump’s inauguration to a second time period in workplace.
TikTok challenged its constitutionality within the courts. The Supreme Court docket upheld the legislation days earlier than it was on account of take impact.
Senate Choose Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat, criticized Trump’s choice.
“As soon as once more, the Trump administration is flouting the legislation and ignoring its personal nationwide safety findings concerning the dangers posed by a PRC-controlled TikTok,” Warner mentioned in a press release.
“An government order cannot sidestep the legislation, however that is precisely what the president is making an attempt to do,” Warner added.
