As tensions continue to swirl around TikTok’s future in the United States, President Donald Trump has indicated he’s open to giving the popular short-video app yet another lease of life. Speaking to NBC News, Trump confirmed that he would consider extending the current June 19 deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its US operations. “I would ... I'd like to see it done,” Trump said, referring to the pending sale. “TikTok is – it's very interesting, but it will be protected.”
Trump’s TikTok Turnaround
Trump’s stance marks a notable shift from his earlier aggressive posture toward the app during his first term. After taking office again in January 2025, Trump granted ByteDance a 75-day extension through an executive order on Day One, citing the need for a smoother transition. That deadline, initially set for January 19 and backed by a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, was first moved to April and then again to June 19.
Interestingly, the app that once faced his wrath appears to have found favour with the president. Trump credited TikTok with helping him win support from younger voters in the 2024 election, calling his connection to the app a “sweet spot.”
China Puts Up Roadblocks
Negotiations for a US-led takeover of TikTok's American operations had made some progress, with plans to spin off the platform into a company led by US investors. However, momentum stalled when China signalled it would not approve such a move. The deadlock came amid rising friction between Washington and Beijing, particularly after Trump reimposed tariffs on Chinese imports, further muddying the waters for any deal to go through.
A source close to TikTok’s US investors told Reuters that discussions are still alive, but any resolution will require navigating the broader web of US-China trade tensions.
TikTok’s Legal Limbo
While lawmakers had passed legislation mandating ByteDance’s divestment under threat of a federal ban, enforcement has been a moving target. The January deadline saw Apple and Google pull the app from their respective stores, and TikTok temporarily went offline, displaying the message: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”
Trump’s repeated extensions have since kept the platform active, but its future still hangs in the balance. Whether a deal can be sealed before the new June deadline — or whether Trump will hit the snooze button again — remains to be seen.