Trump Again Extends TikTok Termination Timeline
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to once again extend the deadline for the Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok to either sell its U.S. operations or shut them down, according to a source familiar with the matter. The current September 17 deadline may be pushed back, marking the fourth extension by Trump, Reuters reported.
Originally, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, was instructed to complete the sale or wind down its U.S. operations by January 2025. However, little progress has been made so far. The process has become more complicated as Beijing’s approval is required before TikTok’s algorithm can be transferred to any American buyer.
Last month, Trump stated that U.S. buyers were prepared to acquire the app and that he was open to granting more time if necessary. On Sunday, however, when asked by reporters, he remarked, “We are still negotiating. Maybe the app will be shut down, maybe not. Everything depends on China.”
Washington has long expressed concerns that Beijing could use TikTok to spy on American citizens, exert pressure, or impose censorship. Yet Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he wants to keep the app operational.
On Sunday, trade talks between the United States and China began in Spain, where the TikTok issue is also expected to surface. Still, sources indicated that reaching an agreement by the September 17 deadline is unlikely.
