Trump Extends TikTok Deadline Amid U.S. Security Concerns

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WASHINGTON, President Donald Trump said Friday he will continue extending the deadline for the sale of TikTok in the United States until an American buyer is confirmed, while noting national security and privacy concerns raised over the app and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

Congress approved legislation requiring ByteDance to sell its controlling stake in TikTok or face a U.S. ban. Trump, now in his second term, has extended the deadline three times, with the next extension set for Sept. 17.

“We’re gonna watch the security concerns,” Trump told reporters. “We have American buyers, and until the complexity of things works out, we just extend a little bit longer.”

The first extension was issued Jan. 20 through executive order, Trump’s first day back in office. That followed a brief period when TikTok went offline as a national ban, approved by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court, temporarily took effect.

A second extension came in April after negotiations to spin off TikTok into a U.S.-owned entity showed progress. The talks collapsed when China withdrew support following new U.S. tariffs.

Trump acknowledged his campaign’s use of TikTok. “I used TikTok in the campaign,” he said. “I’m a fan of TikTok. My kids like TikTok. Young people love TikTok. If we could keep it going.”

Unlike some of Trump’s other executive orders, the extensions have not faced legal challenges. Analysts note the repeated delays reduce the likelihood of an immediate ban.

Public opinion is mixed. A recent Pew Research Center survey found one-third of Americans support banning TikTok, down from 50% in March 2023. Another third oppose a ban, while the remainder are undecided. Among those in favor of a ban, about 80% cited concerns over user data security. TikTok has said it stores U.S. data in the United States and Singapore, separate from its China operations.

The White House recently launched an official TikTok account, aligning with continuing discussions about the app’s ownership and future. Trump’s comments indicate the administration intends to keep TikTok accessible while ensuring it complies with U.S. ownership requirements.

The debate reflects broader concerns in Washington over foreign-owned technology firms and data privacy. Lawmakers continue to weigh measures to increase scrutiny of Chinese technology companies operating in the U.S.

For now, Trump’s repeated extensions keep TikTok available to U.S. users as negotiations over its ownership continue.