Trump reportedly to extend TikTok ban deadline for third time
FILE-The logo of TikTok is displayed on mobile phone screen in front of a computer screen displaying President Donald Trump on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Muhammed Selim Korkutata/Anadolu via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump may extend the TikTok ban deadline for a third time, the New York Post reported.
A government official told the New York Post earlier this week that Trump is "willing to announce another extension if it has to happen."
When is the TikTok ban deadline?
Why you should care:
The previous extension to the TikTok ban law, which requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company Bytedance to sell the video-sharing app in the US, expires June 19, the New York Post reported.
Former President Joe Biden signed the divest-or-ban law, which was scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 19, 2025, the day before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
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Trump signed an executive order pushing back the TikTok ban by 90 days and announced a second extension in April just as a group of US investors were about to devise a plan that would allow TikTok to be controlled by a majority-US company, with a minority stake being held by ByteDance.
What is the TikTok ban law?
The backstory:
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which passed with bipartisan support in 2024 and was signed by President Joe Biden, cites national security concerns over the company’s ties to the Chinese government. It mandates that ByteDance sell TikTok’s U.S. operations by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
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If the sale is not completed by that date, TikTok will be blocked from U.S. app stores, and existing users will lose access to updates and support. ByteDance contested the law, claiming it violates First Amendment rights, but the court’s actions mean it will move forward with the deadline.
Will TikTok be sold?
Big picture view:
While ByteDance has not confirmed plans to sell, several groups have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s US operations:
- Perplexity AI – The artificial intelligence startup proposed a merger deal that would combine its business with TikTok’s US platform.
- Frank McCourt’s consortium – The billionaire investor, along with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has reportedly offered $20 billion in cash to buy TikTok and implement blockchain-based user control.
- Jesse Tinsley’s group – This coalition, which includes Roblox’s CEO, is offering more than $30 billion for the platform.
- Microsoft – Trump has suggested the tech giant may be exploring a bid, though no formal offer has been reported.
- Steve Mnuchin & Rumble – Trump’s former Treasury secretary and the conservative video platform have also signaled interest in forming a buying group.
Trump has also floated the idea of the US government taking a 50% stake in TikTok, though it remains unclear how that would work in practice.
If no deal is reached, the US could attempt to block access to TikTok nationwide. Currently, TikTok continues to operate normally in the US, but the coming weeks could determine whether millions of American users will need to say goodbye to the platform—or see it under new ownership.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the New York Post and previous LIVENOW from FOX reporting. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.