WASHINGTON — Hours before a deadline that could have led TikTok to go dark in the U.S. for a second time, President Donald Trump on Friday announced he is signing an executive order to delay a potential ban. The move gives ByteDance, the China-based owner of the popular social media app, another 75 days to comply with a U.S. law requiring it to find a new owner over national security concerns.  

What You Need To Know

  • Hours before a deadline that could have led TikTok to go dark in the U.S. for a second time, President Donald Trump on Friday announced he is signing an executive order to delay a potential ban
  • The move gives ByteDance, the China-based owner of the popular social media app, another 75 days to comply with a U.S. law requiring it to find a new owner over national security concerns
  • The president had told reporters less than 24 hours earlier that he was “very close” to helping secure such a deal that involved “multiple” investors as ByteDance was staring down a Saturday deadline to divest
  • This marks the second time Trump has signed an order pushing back the deadline for ByteDance to find a new owner, a term that was set by a bill Congress passed and former President Joe Biden signed last year amid concerns about the Chinese government’s access to the data of American TikTok users

“My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media site, Truth Social. “The Deal 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 president had told reporters less than 24 hours earlier that he was “very close” to helping secure such a deal that involved “multiple” investors as ByteDance was staring down a Saturday deadline to divest. 

The Associated Press reported that Trump had a plan for TikTok to be under the watch of a new U.S. company, operated by a majority of American investors, with ByteDance having a minority position but the deal fell through in the wake of the president’s far-reaching tariff announcement on Wednesday.

Trump this week placed a 34% tariff on all imports of Chinese goods as part of his long-pledged and closely watched plan to impose higher rates on major U.S. trading partners in a bid to balance deficits. He had already raised the rate to 20% weeks ago in what he said was an effort to get the country to crack down on its role in facilitating the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. 

In his post, Trump went on to say he hopes to use the time to work with China “in Good Faith” on a potential deal and suggested his newly imposed tariffs on imports of goods from the country into the U.S. may help him do so. China on Friday, however, hit back at the U.S. with a 34% tariff of its own on imports of American products.

“We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!)” Trump wrote. “This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security!” 

The president has previously cited the fees as a potential tool in negotiations with other countries, specifically pointing to the possibility they could be used as leverage specifically to help him work out a deal with China on TikTok on Thursday. 

“We have a situation with TikTok where China will probably say we’ll approve a deal but will you do something on the tariffs,” Trump told reporters. “The tariffs give us great power to negotiate. They always have.”

Although when asked if there were concrete conversations taking place with Chinese counterparts on this, the president said no, adding he was simply using it as an example.

In a statement following the announcement, a spokesperson for ByteDance said the company has “been in discussion with the U.S. Government regarding a potential solution for TikTok U.S.” but noted there are “key matters to be resolved.”

“An agreement has not been executed. There are key matters to be resolved,” the spokesperson said in a written statement. “Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law.”

This marks the second time Trump has signed an order pushing back the deadline for ByteDance to find a new owner, a term that was set by a bill Congress passed and former President Joe Biden signed one year ago amid concerns about the Chinese government’s access to the data of American TikTok users.

The first 75-day extension came on Trump’s first day back in office in January. There was a brief period ahead of that order in which the app went dark for U.S. users and Google and Apple removed it from their digital stores.

Trump — who spearheaded the campaign to ban the app in the U.S. during his first term — has made clear he does not want TikTok going anywhere. 

“I'd like to see TikTok remain alive,” he told reporters on Sunday. 

The president often cites the app’s popularity with young Americans, crediting it with helping him make inroads with young voters in November’s election.  

Multiple outlets reported this week that the president was set to meet with aides on Wednesday to talk about possible investors, as multiple reports surfaced of different companies, such as Amazon, throwing their hats in the ring. The president tasked Vice President JD Vance and national security adviser Mike Waltz with overseeing any potential deal on behalf of the U.S.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the new extension a “diversion” to draw attention away from Trump's tariff announcement, which has sparked tension with longtime allies and sent stocks plunging. 

“He knows what trouble he is in with tariffs," Schumer told reporters during a news conference. "This is what he always does. He creates a diversion. All he did is extend the 75 days. He didn’t make a decision one way or the other.”