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Washington, D.C. — June 18, 2025
In a surprising development, President Donald Trump has granted a third extension to ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, allowing it to divest its U.S. operations amid ongoing national security concerns. The White House confirmed this decision late Tuesday.
The new executive order grants ByteDance an additional 90 days to negotiate a sale or restructuring of the company’s U.S. assets to comply with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that requires closing or divestiture in January 2025. The latest extension moves the deadline to mid-September 2025.
An official White House spokesperson said President Trump remains committed to protecting Americans’ data and digital privacy. “This extension ensures the administration can thoroughly evaluate potential U.S.-based buyers and avoid a rushed decision that may harm national interests.”
This is the third consecutive time the Trump administration has delayed the deadline. The law permits only one 90-day extension. This delay has raised legal questions about whether the president has the authority to issue further extensions.
ByteDance is currently in discussions with a variety of American technology and investment companies. But no final agreement has been reached.
The opposition says that the many extensions show indecision and could affect the administration’s position regarding oversight of foreign tech. The supporters, on their side, claim the delay is an outcome that is more stable and ensures the safety of TikTok’s millions of U.S. users and the wider digital economy.
Although it did not address the most recent extension, TikTok reaffirmed its intention to abide by US law.
In 2024, the Biden administration approved the divestiture bill due to national security concerns. These concerns focused on data access by Chinese government officials. Since taking office, Trump has enforced this law strictly. However, this third extension has drawn bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill.
It is unclear if TikTok will eventually be removed, sold, or restructured, but when the clock resets, all eyes are focused on Sept. 2025.
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