Sat Apr 05 00:16:05 UTC 2025: **Trump Extends TikTok’s US Operation for 75 Days Amidst Deal Negotiations**
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 5, 2025) – President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is signing an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day reprieve from a US ban, aiming to finalize a deal transferring the platform’s US operations to American ownership. The decision follows months of negotiations, a near-deal that fell apart due to China’s response to new US tariffs, and a previously mandated divestment deadline.
While White House officials believed a deal was imminent—involving a US-based company with majority American ownership and ByteDance retaining a minority stake—China reversed its approval on Thursday, citing the new tariffs. This left the deal in limbo and complicated communications about the agreement’s details.
The 75-day extension allows the administration more time to secure all necessary approvals. Trump expressed confidence in achieving a deal within this timeframe, stating that “tremendous progress” had already been made. A ByteDance spokesperson confirmed ongoing discussions but noted that “key matters” remain unresolved and that any agreement requires Chinese governmental approval.
The executive order has sparked debate. While legal challenges are deemed unlikely due to the difficulty in establishing legal standing, concerns remain about national security if ByteDance retains control of TikTok’s algorithm. Experts warn that this would leave the platform vulnerable to data misuse by a foreign adversary.
Congress mandated divestment by January 19th, 2025, a deadline already extended once by Trump. Legal scholars argue that the current action constitutes a unilateral non-enforcement declaration, violating the law. Public opinion on a TikTok ban remains divided, with recent surveys showing decreased support for a complete ban compared to two years ago. Meanwhile, content creators express exhaustion from the ongoing uncertainty and the repeated deadline extensions.
First Piper 