TikTok Gets 75-Day Reprieve from U.S. Ban

WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States has granted TikTok a 75-day extension to secure a non-Chinese buyer, avoiding an immediate ban in the country. The extension comes as the administration claims significant progress in finding a solution for the popular video-sharing app, which faces scrutiny over its Chinese ownership.

“My administration has been working very hard on a deal to save TikTok, and we have made tremendous progress,” the president stated on Truth Social, mere hours before the initial deadline was to expire. “A transaction requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an executive order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.”

The app, boasting over 170 million American users, is under pressure from a U.S. law passed last year that demands it separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. shutdown. The administration has repeatedly expressed concerns over national security, believing the app to be under the influence of the Chinese government.

While the president has asserted that a deal involving multiple investors is imminent, specific details have remained sparse. The original ban was set to take effect on January 19th, one day before the current president’s inauguration.

Leading up to that initial deadline, TikTok temporarily ceased operations in the United States and was removed from app stores, prompting widespread user dismay. However, the president subsequently announced a 75-day delay, and TikTok services were reinstated in February, returning to the Apple and Google app stores.

This latest 75-day extension pushes the new deadline to June 19th, providing further time for negotiations and deal finalization. The ongoing situation remains under close observation, as the app’s future in the U.S. hinges on the success of these negotiations.