President Donald Trump on Tuesday extended a delay on the US TikTok ban until 16 December, marking the fourth time the administration has delayed enforcing a law designed to force the app’s sale from its Chinese owner. The announcement came through an executive order, a significant move in the ongoing battle over the popular app’s fate.
The extension followed Trump’s statement to reporters earlier Tuesday that the United States and China had reached an agreement. They forged a new ownership structure for the US business of the widely used video-sharing app. Meanwhile, the latest delay would have expired on Wednesday, enabling a US law to take effect.
A Controversial History of Delays
Previous delays were issued in January, April, and June as the administration navigated complex legal and national security implications. That legislation was designed to address national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and its potential ties to the Chinese government. The app has faced scrutiny from US officials who worry about data collection and content manipulation.
Nevertheless, Trump, whose election campaign heavily relied on social media and who has stated he is fond of TikTok, paused the ban. TikTok has repeatedly denied sharing user data with Chinese authorities and has challenged various restrictions in federal court.
“We have a deal on TikTok; I’ve reached a deal with China,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a state visit to Britain. He added, “I’m going to speak to President Xi (Jinping) on Friday to confirm everything.” Trump also commented, “We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it,” adding that he would “hate to see value like that thrown out the window.”
Details of the New Arrangement
According to the Wall Street Journal, under the new arrangement, an investor consortium will control TikTok’s US business. This consortium includes cloud giant Oracle and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Additionally, Chinese owners will keep less than 20% of the US business, in accordance with the law. Both companies have very close ties to the Trump White House, and Oracle already plays a significant role in TikTok’s US infrastructure.
Parent company ByteDance’s existing US investors would also become part of the new group, as they would own roughly 80% of the new company. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng negotiated the preliminary deal over two days of talks in Madrid.
Ultimately, the new executive order prohibits the US Justice Department from taking enforcement action not only during the extended period but also retroactively.
