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President Donald Trump has once again delayed the enforcement of a federally mandated ban on TikTok, issuing an executive order Thursday that pushes the deadline for the Chinese-owned social media platform to divest or face a U.S. ban to September 17, 2025.
The decision marks the third time the Trump administration has postponed enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a law passed in 2024 requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a U.S. buyer due to national security concerns.
“I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days (September 17, 2025). Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social.
TikTok Responds
TikTok welcomed the move, thanking the president and reaffirming its commitment to working with U.S. officials.
“We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on the platform,” the company said, adding that it would continue talks with Vice President J.D. Vance’s Office on compliance efforts.
A Shift in Trump’s Position
The delay represents a dramatic evolution in Trump’s stance on TikTok. During his first term, Trump aggressively pursued a ban on the app, citing national security risks over ByteDance’s potential ties to the Chinese government. At the time, his administration argued that the platform could be used for surveillance or influence operations.
However, after joining TikTok during the 2024 campaign, Trump found enormous success on the platform, amassing millions of followers. The app became a vital part of his online media strategy, particularly in connecting with young voters. His growing presence on TikTok coincided with a broader surge in MAGA-aligned influencers and alternative media personalities on the platform, which now rivals traditional news sources among users under 30.
Congress and the Courts Backed the Ban
Despite Trump’s change in tone, the legislative and judicial branches have moved in the opposite direction. The law requiring ByteDance to divest was passed on a bipartisan basis last year and signed into law by President Joe Biden before leaving office. The legislation reflected growing unease in Washington over Beijing’s influence and data access capabilities.
The Supreme Court upheld the law earlier this year, reinforcing Congress’s authority to regulate foreign-controlled apps on national security grounds. Legal experts now argue Trump’s repeated postponements may test the limits of executive power.
“This is not just a delay — it’s a fundamental challenge to a law that has already cleared both Congress and the Supreme Court,” said Laura Chen, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University. “We are entering a gray zone where executive discretion is overriding a clearly enacted and upheld statute.”
Business Deal in Limbo
While the law sets a clear deadline, finding a U.S.-approved buyer for TikTok remains unresolved. In April, Trump granted ByteDance a 75-day extension to secure a deal. Though several American billionaires and tech giants have been rumored to show interest — including Oracle, Microsoft, and Elon Musk — no agreement has materialized.
ByteDance has shown little public urgency to finalize a sale, raising questions about whether the Chinese government might be quietly obstructing a transaction or whether ByteDance hopes U.S. political winds will continue to shift in its favor.
Concerns Beyond National Security
In addition to geopolitical fears, TikTok continues to face backlash for its algorithmic design, which critics argue has damaging effects on mental health, particularly among teenagers and young adults. With users spending an average of an hour a day on the platform, TikTok plays an outsized role in shaping youth culture — and increasingly, political discourse.
Nearly 40 percent of young adults in the U.S. now get their news from TikTok, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey, reflecting a major shift away from traditional media sources.
Political Motivations?
Trump’s latest move has prompted speculation about political motivations. Critics point to his ties with prominent TikTok creators and allege that GOP megadonor Jeffrey Yass, an early investor in TikTok's U.S. operations, may be influencing the administration’s posture. In 2024, Trump suggested that banning TikTok would “hand power back to Facebook,” a platform with which he has had a rocky relationship.
Still, Trump's defenders say the delay allows more time for a fair sale, protecting small businesses and creators who depend on the platform for income.
“This isn’t about China — it’s about millions of Americans who use TikTok every day,” said conservative influencer and Trump ally Daniel Lopez, who has over 5 million TikTok followers. “Trump understands that.”
What Happens Next
If no deal is reached by the new September deadline, and if Trump declines to issue another extension, the federal government would be legally obligated to begin enforcing the TikTok ban — potentially removing the app from app stores and blocking access within the U.S.
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