Former President Donald Trump has declared a new 90-day delay on the ban of TikTok, the popular social media platform. This decision follows Trump administration era negotiations over the sale of TikTok’s American operations to an American company. The soonest the sale can now occur is after June 19, and the new deadline depends on the appeals process.
Trump made this announcement during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he emphasized the need for a joint venture involving U.S. ownership as a possible solution for the app’s future in America. Earlier in April, Trump had given TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with demands from his administration.
The Chinese government would have to approve any transaction concerning TikTok’s U.S. operations. This new requirement throws another twist into the negotiations. Trump declared the U.S. and China have been on a collision course, especially over economic policy. He stated, “The Chinese government was not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs.”
This latest extension reflects Trump’s willingness to consider further delays if a suitable agreement is not reached within the new timeframe. “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump remarked, indicating a more nuanced approach to the application than previously suggested.
Axios reported on Trump’s declaration about the TikTok ban extension, highlighting the administration’s involvement in the decision-making process. Read more from TechCrunch on the initial announcement to delay the ban. That’s why this decision has caused such outcry and alarm among users and stakeholders in the technology sector.
The current crisis amplifies the important role geopolitical relationships have on technology and social media ecosystems. As negotiations continue, TikTok’s fate in the United States hangs in the balance. The eventual outcome will depend on final approvals from regulators and on the corporate strategy of its new owner, ByteDance.
