📱In a move that’s sparking both celebration and controversy, President Donald Trump has signed a fresh executive order granting TikTok another 90 days to avoid a full-scale U.S. ban. This is the third extension given to the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an American buyer. The new deadline? September 17, 2025.

TikTok, which boasts a staggering 170 million users in the U.S., responded quickly with a thankful statement, applauding Trump’s leadership and reiterating its commitment to remaining operational in America.

Trump’s executive order adds another chapter to the long and dramatic TikTok saga that started years ago with national security concerns over U.S. user data being accessed by China. ByteDance is based in Beijing, and American lawmakers have consistently warned that data could be vulnerable to surveillance by the Chinese Communist Party.

Despite earlier attempts to ban TikTok outright during Trump’s first term, the current administration seems more focused on forcing a U.S.-based acquisition to address security concerns, rather than shutting it down entirely.

The story has taken plenty of twists. After a Biden-era law set the original ban in motion last year, TikTok briefly went offline ahead of Trump’s inauguration. But once Trump made it clear he wasn’t interested in a blackout, the app roared back to life.

Support for banning TikTok has also dipped recently. According to a Pew Research Center survey, most Americans either don’t support a ban or believe it’s no longer necessary. In fact, when TikTok briefly disappeared, many users turned to a Chinese-owned alternative called RedNote, only to return to TikTok as soon as it came back online.

ByteDance now has until mid-September to seal a deal—and there’s no shortage of suitors. Here are some of the most notable names said to be in the mix:

Still, no deal has been finalized, and ByteDance has not publicly committed to making the sale. Some insiders say the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China—fueled by Trump’s new tariffs—may be complicating efforts behind the scenes.

Adding to the challenge: Chinese President Xi Jinping may need to approve any sale. Trump acknowledged this aboard Air Force One, saying he believes Xi would be "amenable" to a deal but emphasized that Beijing will play a role in what happens next.

TikTok’s long-term presence in the U.S. is still hanging by a legal thread. The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the Biden-era law requiring TikTok to either be sold or shut down. That means if ByteDance doesn’t strike a deal before the September 17 deadline, TikTok could be kicked out of the U.S. for good.

This latest extension isn’t just a pause—it’s likely the final window of opportunity for ByteDance to keep TikTok alive in the American market.

If you're a creator, brand, or just someone who enjoys endless dog videos and dance trends, the stakes are high. With millions of livelihoods tied to TikTok’s platform—especially for small businesses and influencers—this next 90 days could decide the app’s future in the U.S.

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