Trump Delays TikTok U.S. Ban for a Third Time

What Happened?

President Donald Trump recently announced the U.S. will extend its June 19 TikTok deadline for the third time.

It will allow China-based ByteDance more time to divest the U.S. assets of the popular social platform.

On Wednesday, President Trump told White House reporters that 'we’re going to extend it' and 'we’re going to probably make a deal' concerning the app.

He adds that the U.S. will need China's 'blessing' on it and as a result, he thinks that China 'will bless it.'

Trump’s latest extension would give TikTok's parent company an additional 90 days to get things in order while the administration works on a sale agreement.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that Trump has said many times, that he does not want TikTok to 'go dark.'

This latest decision provides yet another lifeline for the China-based company to come to terms with Washington's concerns.

It’s a decision the company will have to make in order to preserve the app's operations in the U.S.

Why it Matters

TikTok has created friction in Washington over national security concerns.

It comes during a time when tensions are running high between the U.S. and China amid an ongoing trade war.

However, Trump believes that giving more time to secure an agreement will allow for an American buyer to acquire the platform with Beijing's sign-off, according to reports.

It raises some criticism as a law had mandated a sale or a shutdown absent significant progress.

Trump's latest extension comes as a list of buyers have made significant efforts to acquire a stake in the app and its 170 million U.S. users.

Software company Oracle, investment firm Blackstone, and Microsoft are reportedly among possible investors who have entered such discussions.

But most of the stagnant movement has come from the larger tensions over trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, Bloomberg reports.

A China spokesperson last week appeared to downplay one of Trump's latest statements that a U.S. trade deal with Chinese leaders was 'done.'

The spokesperson stated that trade talks held in London between the two parties represented the ‘first meeting.'

Although it came as a reminder that tensions are still high the spokesperson added both parties still addressed one another's concerns.

How it Affects You

As TikTok continues to operate in the U.S., its long-term future will certainly play a critical role in China-U.S. trade deal decisions.

U.S. services were previously restored through executive order after the app temporarily went dark following the Supreme Court's unsigned opinion to uphold the ban.

Over one million U.S. content creators still await a final decision as ByteDance had agreed to work with the U.S. on a long-term solution.

It’s unclear if President Trump will make this extension the final one granted.