ISLAMABAD: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer by another 90 days, pushing the new cut-off to September 17, 2025.
This is the third extension granted by Trump, who signed the executive order on Thursday and shared the update via his Truth Social account.
The original law requiring a sale or ban of TikTok, citing national security risks, was set to take effect a day before Trumpโs return to office.
Despite previously advocating for the platformโs divestment, Trump has since softened his stance, stating he holds a โwarm spotโ for the video-sharing app.
In early May, he indicated willingness to grant more time if needed, recognizing TikTokโs role in connecting with young voters during his 2024 campaign.
National Security, Business Interests Collide
TikTok welcomed the extension, expressing appreciation for Trumpโs leadership and support for its 170 million U.S. users.
ByteDance, TikTokโs Chinese parent company, has confirmed ongoing talks with U.S. authorities regarding a potential divestiture.
Trump previously suggested that American investors were ready to purchase TikTokโs U.S. operations, a deal he believes would safeguard American data.
However, ByteDance must navigate both American legal hurdles and Chinese government approval before proceeding with any sale.
Potential buyers include Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone.
Oracle already manages TikTok’s U.S. data infrastructure, and its chairman, Larry Ellison, is a known Trump supporter.
Algorithm, Influence, and Global Stakes
Analysts warn that TikTokโs core algorithm is a central issue.
Stripping it from the deal would dramatically reduce the platformโs value and functionality.
โTikTok without its algorithm is like Harry Potter without his wand,โ said Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering.
Shweta Singh, an academic at Warwick Business School, described TikTok as a flashpoint in the ongoing U.S.-China digital rivalryโa key symbol of the new tech Cold War.
Despite regulatory uncertainty, TikTok has maintained business momentum.
This week, it unveiled โSymphony,โ a new suite of AI-powered tools to help advertisers create video content more efficiently.
While critics claim Trump has deprioritized the TikTok matter, analysts say unless provoked, heโs unlikely to pursue aggressive action.
The coming months will determine whether a deal materializesโor if TikTok faces removal from the U.S. app landscape.
