US President Donald Trump is delaying the TikTok ban for another 75 days. This is the third delay since Trump took office in January.
No deal with China
Trump’s second delay for TikTok expires on June 19. Since no deal could be reached with China, a third delay is needed for TikTok to continue operating in the US.
TikTok is banned in the US under the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Hostile Controlled Applications Act” that went into effect on January 19. Trump has instructed the Justice Department not to implement the law at this time.
Since January, Trump has been trying to move TikTok’s operations out of Chinese control and into US ownership. Trump’s team is considering offers from Oracle, Perplexity and Amazon. In addition, names such as Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast), Shark Tank host Kevin O’Leary, Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley and billionaire Frank McCourt are also making attempts to buy TikTok.
Trump needs to work with China to get the TikTok deal approved. However, China is not cooperating due to trade tensions caused by Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods.
TikTok’s status in the US remains uncertain. The app is currently available for download on the App Store and is not at risk of being removed from the store with constant delays. However, a transition to US ownership seems necessary for a long-term solution.
The trade war between the US and China further complicates the TikTok issue. Trump’s high tariffs on Chinese goods are causing Beijing’s administration to take an uncompromising stance on TikTok.
TikTok’s 170 million users in the US are positively affected by the delay decisions. The app continues to be one of the most popular options among video-sharing platforms.
The Trump administration supports the ban on the grounds that TikTok is controlled by the Chinese government and poses a threat to the security of US users’ data. ByteDance, as TikTok’s parent company, is under pressure that it may be forced to sell its US operations.
Experts say TikTok’s future in the US depends on the outcome of talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Improving relations between the two countries is critical to resolving the TikTok issue.
The third delay of the TikTok ban allows the app to continue operating in the US, while the search for a permanent solution continues.
