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US President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible extension of TikTok’s deadline to dispossess US user assets.
In January, the Trump administration announced a ban of the Chinese-owned social media app, citing security issues. The app’s owner, ByteDance, would have to divest US assets to keep the app operational. Despite the ban being congressionally mandated and briefly being taken down on 19 January, the deadline for assets to be handed over has been extended twice already.
The first extension was in January with one of Trump’s executive orders, while the second was in April when White House officials were convinced that they were reaching a deal through which TikTok would be spun off into a new US-owned company. However, China backed down following the announcement of the tariffs.
Trump then said in May that as the app helped him win the young vote in the 2024 election, he would extend the 19 June deadline once again.
Now, speaking with reporters on Air Force One this week, Trump reiterated the belief that the deadline would be extended.
“Probably, yeah,” Trump said when asked if the deadline would be extended.
“Probably have to get China approval, but I think we’ll get it. I think President Xi will ultimately approve it.”
Trump has previously said that he has a “warm spot for TikTok” following his last election win and has since amassed 15 million followers on the platform after joining last year.
It is unclear if Trump can indefinitely delay the congressionally mandated ban or if a deal is still on the table as tensions between the US and China continue to grow as a result of the tariffs. The US has imposed a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, while China responded by imposing a 125 per cent tariff on US goods, according to the tax foundation.
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