President Trump Extends Tiktok operations in the US for 75 days

On April 4, 2025, President Donald Trump granted TikTok a 75-day extension to operate in the U.S., pushing the deadline for ByteDance to sell its American operations to mid-June. This follows a prior extension in January, after a 2024 law demanded divestment by January 19 or a ban. Trump, once a TikTok critic, now champions its survival, claiming progress on a deal to “SAVE TIKTOK” for its 170 million U.S. users.

The saga began with concerns over data privacy and Chinese influence, prompting bipartisan legislation under Biden. When ByteDance missed the initial deadline, TikTok briefly shut down—until Trump intervened. Now, his administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, is negotiating with potential buyers like Oracle and Amazon. Proposals include U.S. investors taking control or leasing ByteDance’s algorithm, though China’s approval remains a hurdle.

Trump’s tying the talks to trade adds a twist. After hiking tariffs on Chinese goods to 54%, he’s hinted at relief if Beijing blesses a TikTok deal, drawing mixed reactions. Critics say this undermines security goals, while supporters see it as pragmatic. Legally, some question Trump’s authority to extend deadlines repeatedly, but no challenges have stuck.

For users, it’s a reprieve for a cultural powerhouse that shaped the 2024 election—Trump credits it for his youth vote. Yet, risks linger: lawmakers fear data harvesting or propaganda by Beijing. As June nears, the focus is on whether Trump can seal a deal or if this is just another delay. With tech giants in the mix and trade tensions simmering, TikTok’s U.S. fate hangs in the balance, promising more twists in this high-stakes drama.

Stay tuned for updates.