Former President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Thursday, granting TikTok another 90 days to continue operating in the United States. The extension gives the administration more time to negotiate a deal that would shift TikTok into American hands.
Announcing the decision on his Truth Social account, Trump emphasized that he doesn’t want TikTok to be shut down. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed, “President Trump has always said he doesn’t want TikTok to go dark. This 90-day extension allows the administration more time to close the deal and ensure Americans can keep using TikTok safely and securely.”
This marks the third time Trump has postponed the enforcement of a national ban. His initial extension came on January 20 — his first day in office — after a congressional ban, backed by the Supreme Court, briefly took effect. The second came in April, when a near-final deal collapsed after China withdrew support following Trump’s announcement of new tariffs.
It remains unclear how many more times Trump can extend the deadline, especially without any specific legal framework. So far, no legal challenges have been filed to contest the executive orders. Notably, Trump himself has built a massive following of over 15 million on TikTok and credits the platform for boosting his popularity among younger voters. In January, he remarked that he has a “warm spot for TikTok.”
TikTok expressed gratitude for the extension. “We appreciate President Trump’s leadership and support in keeping TikTok available for over 170 million users and 7.5 million American businesses. We will continue working with Vice President Vance’s office to ensure a secure future for the platform,” the company said in a statement.
With each extension, a U.S. ban on TikTok seems increasingly unlikely. While some critics question the legality of using executive orders to delay a ban, no legal proceedings have emerged — a rare break from the pattern of challenges to many of Trump’s other executive actions.
Jeremy Goldman, an analyst at Emarketer, described the situation as “deadline purgatory,” comparing the recurring delays to a political version of Groundhog Day or the ongoing debt ceiling debates — dramatic, but unresolved.
Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering noted that TikTok isn’t slowing down. “They’re showing confidence by launching new AI-powered video tools at Cannes this week,” she said. “Smaller competitors like Snap might try to gain ground during this uncertain period, but they’re unlikely to succeed. TikTok’s future doesn’t feel uncertain anymore.”
As of now, TikTok remains active and accessible for its 170 million American users. Major tech companies — including Apple, Google, and Oracle — have agreed to continue supporting the app, based on assurances from Trump’s Justice Department that they won’t be penalized.
Meanwhile, public opinion remains sharply divided. A recent Pew Research Center poll found only one-third of Americans support a TikTok ban — down from 50% in March 2023. Another third oppose a ban, while the rest remain undecided. Among those supporting a ban, 80% cite concerns over data privacy and national security.
Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the latest extension. He accused the Trump administration of “ignoring its own national security findings” and attempting to bypass legal constraints. “An executive order cannot override the law,” Warner said. “But that’s exactly what the president is trying to do.”
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