If you’ve been following the saga of TikTok’s future in the US, you’ll know that the platform has been caught in a political and legal tug-of-war for years. Most recently, the deadline for TikTok’s divestiture of its US operations, initially set for 5th of April 5, 2025, has come and gone – yet the platform remains operational in the country.
On that day itself, US President Donald Trump announced via his own social media platform, Truth Social, that he is signing an executive order to keep TikTok “up and running” for an additional 75 days. So yes, TikTok isn’t banned in the US just yet, and users are still able to access the social platform, at least for the next two and a half months.
Trump wants to work out a solution with China, although China is unhappy with the tariffs
In his Truth Social post, Trump mentioned that his administration has been “working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK”. Yes, the capitalisations are exactly mirrored from the original post.
However, the President stated that the deal is still in progress, which is the reason behind his decision to extend TikTok’s lifeline in the US. The President even mentioned that his administration hopes to “continue working in Good Faith with China”, which he understands isn’t very happy about the reciprocal tariffs slapped by his government.
Trump further emphasised the necessity of the tariffs for “Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the USA”, and how it’s proof of how tariffs are the “most powerful Economic tool, and are very important to our (US) National Security”. Despite tensions between the two nations over issues like trade imbalances and national security, Trump expressed hope that the extension would lead to a solution that could keep TikTok alive in the US.
ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, put out a statement on the 4th of April, stating that it’s been in discussion with the US government regarding a potential solution for TikTok US. An agreement has yet to be executed, thus far, as several key matters need to be resolved. The firm added that any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law.
What’s up with TikTok’s ban in the US?
TikTok has been under scrutiny in the US since 2020 over concerns regarding the app’s handling of user data. The Trump administration initially threatened to ban TikTok, citing national security risks related to data privacy. The government argued that TikTok’s data could be accessed by the Chinese government, potentially posing a security threat.
In response to these concerns, the U.S. government instructed TikTok to sell off its American operations or face a ban. By January 18, 2025, the original deadline had passed, and TikTok briefly went offline in the US. Users in the US or those using a US VPN attempting to access the platform were greeted with a message saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”
However, within two days of the platform going offline, Trump issued another executive order to delay enforcement of the ban by 75 days, giving ByteDance additional time to negotiate a potential sale of TikTok’s US arm. Now, with the latest extension, ByteDance has another chance to strike a deal with a US buyer, preventing a full shutdown of the app.
TikTok’s dilemma: Divestiture or shutdown?
At the heart of the issue is the US government’s demand for ByteDance to divest its US operations to a US company. TikTok has been adamant in its resistance, arguing that such a sale would undermine its operations and its business model. The Chinese government has also voiced opposition to a forced divestiture, citing concerns over national sovereignty and economic interests.
Despite these challenges, TikTok’s legal team has fought back against the ban and the demand for divestiture, but so far, these efforts have been unsuccessful. For TikTok to survive in the US, it will need to find a buyer that satisfies US government concerns while also meeting the regulatory and financial requirements of the platform’s Chinese parent company.
Geopolitical tensions and the future of TikTok
China has made it clear that it prefers TikTok to retain control over its US operations. The country has been outspoken in its opposition to the forced sale, viewing the potential divestiture as a broader issue of economic and political leverage. The US government, meanwhile, continues to insist that a resolution must address both national security concerns and the trade imbalance between the two countries.
While Trump’s administration is working to broker a deal, the clock is ticking. The latest extension gives TikTok more time, but the platform’s long-term future in the US remains uncertain. Whether ByteDance can find a suitable buyer and meet the US government’s demands is yet to be seen.
TikTok’s ongoing legal and political battles are far from over. The 75-day extension buys time, but the platform’s future in the US depends on whether it can navigate the competing interests of the US government, the Chinese government, and potential American buyers.
As the situation evolves, TikTok’s ability to adapt and strike a deal will determine whether it can remain a prominent social media player in the US or be forced to retreat from the market entirely.
