President Trump has extended TikTok’s deadline by 75 days, offering a temporary reprieve as high-stakes negotiations over its future play out amid rising trade tensions with China.
AT A GLANCE
- TikTok’s U.S. shutdown deadline has been extended from April 5 to late June
- Trump cites ongoing approval needs as reason for the 75-day extension
- Amazon and Oracle have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations
- Proposed deal structures would let China retain algorithm control while leasing it
- Trump hints at using new tariffs on China as leverage in negotiations
Trump Grants TikTok a Reprieve
President Donald Trump has extended TikTok’s operational deadline in the United States, postponing a potential ban until late June. Signed via Executive Order, the 75-day extension prevents disruption for the platform’s 135 million American users as negotiations continue between TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance and potential U.S. buyers.
In a statement, Trump explained the move: “The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.”
Watch Trump’s announcement on the extension.
This marks the second delay granted under Trump’s administration, reflecting the complexity of resolving both national security concerns and trade negotiations between the U.S. and China.
Tech Giants Circle as Bidding War Builds
Amazon has now reportedly joined Oracle in expressing interest in TikTok’s U.S. operations. Oracle founder Larry Ellison, a known Trump ally, had previously positioned his company as a lead contender. Both companies are exploring creative deal structures to satisfy opposing demands from the U.S. and Chinese governments.
One such structure under consideration would allow ByteDance to retain ownership of TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm while leasing access to a U.S.-based entity with minority ownership. This could address Washington’s data security concerns while avoiding a full technology transfer, which China has strongly resisted.
Industry insiders suggest that potential buyers are also pushing for indemnity clauses to protect against future government scrutiny.
Trade War Leverage in the Background
The deadline extension arrives as Trump escalates his economic standoff with China. Days prior, the president unveiled sweeping new tariffs, including a 54% duty on Chinese goods, prompting volatility in global markets. Trump has indicated that tariff relief could be used as a bargaining chip in the TikTok negotiations.
“If somebody said that we’re going to give you something that’s so phenomenal… as long as they’re giving us something, that’s good,” Trump said of a possible trade-off involving TikTok and tariffs.
In this broader context, the platform has become a flashpoint for geopolitics. Trump suggested that tariff adjustments might form part of a final agreement, if China agrees to TikTok’s restructuring in favor of U.S. interests.
Security Concerns Still Unresolved
National security concerns remain the central issue. ByteDance’s ownership has long worried U.S. officials, who fear Chinese law could compel the company to hand over data on U.S. users or manipulate content for political ends. Although TikTok has relocated U.S. user data to domestic servers, critics argue this doesn’t address the algorithmic control that shapes user experiences.
The potential compromise—leasing the algorithm without transferring ownership—aims to bridge that gap. Still, it requires approval from both governments, and it’s unclear if Beijing would sign off.
The Road Ahead
While TikTok users can breathe easy for now, the platform’s long-term fate is still uncertain. Trump has suggested that if progress continues but a deal isn’t finalized by June, further extensions may be possible. But with negotiations tied to high-stakes economic policies and international diplomacy, the outcome could change rapidly.
For now, TikTok’s 135 million U.S. users remain online—waiting as politics, policy, and tech giants battle over the future of their favorite app.
