Trump Delays TikTok Ban Again, Raising Legal Questions
President Donald Trump has once again extended the deadline for TikTok to sell its U.S. operations to a non-Chinese buyer. On Thursday, he signed an executive order granting the company another 90 days, pushing the ban date to September 17, 2025. This marks the third delay since Congress approved the national ban, which was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Each extension has raised questions about the legal framework supporting these delays. So far, no court challenges have emerged, even though the legal basis remains unclear. The situation creates uncertainty around how long Trump can legally postpone enforcement.
Previous Deals Fell Through Repeatedly
Trump’s first extension occurred on January 20, his first day in office, to avoid immediately banning the platform. He issued a second delay in April, after failed negotiations to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company. Those talks collapsed when China withdrew from the deal following new U.S. tariffs.
While the platform’s future remains under negotiation, no replacement deal has been finalized. Additionally, there’s no confirmation on whether further extensions are still an option under existing law.
TikTok’s Role in Trump’s Campaign Strategy
Despite efforts to ban the app, Trump continues to use TikTok actively. He has accumulated over 15 million followers and attributes much of his appeal among young voters to the platform. Notably, he previously stated he has a “warm spot for TikTok.”
Although critics question his repeated use of executive authority, Trump has not faced any legal pushback. As a result, TikTok’s position in the U.S. appears more stable at least for now. However, further developments could change the landscape quickly, especially if legal or political pressure mounts.
