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Trump extends TikTok reprieve as deal nears
Unredacted documents show TikTok is aware of the dangers caused by its app.
(
SEBASTIEN BOZON
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
President Donald Trump is holding off enforcement of a nationwide ban on TikTok until mid-December according to
an executive order
issued Tuesday. It's the fourth time Trump has delayed enforcement of
a law
banning the social media app in the U.S., and it comes just as U.S. officials say they've reached
a framework
for a deal with China over control of the short-form video platform.
TikTok dominates the market when it comes to social media video apps. According to
surveys
from the Pew Research Center, roughly one in three Americans uses the app, and about half of adult users say they regularly get their news there.
The company's Chinese ownership has made it a target for U.S. politicians for years. In 2024, Congress passed a law banning the app with bipartisan support. The law said that TikTok would be banned in the U.S. within a year unless it was transferred to a U.S.-owned entity. Lawmakers said they had concerns the data collected by the app could be used to spy on Americans, and so the legislation was designed to compel TikTok's Beijing-based owner, ByteDance, to sell off the U.S. version of the app to American owners.
The law banning TikTok went into effect on the eve of Trump's inauguration in January. The app briefly went dark , but Trump issued an executive order pausing enforcement of the ban for 90 days in order to give time for negotiations. While legally questionable , Trump has since extended that limit several times, and the latest executive order issued provides for another 90-day extension.
-
The House of Representatives was sent home for the duration of the government shutdown. Members returned to the Capitol Wednesday with a lot on their minds. -
Immigrants in California's newest ICE detention center allege they're experiencing inhumane conditions and that they're not getting access to lawyers. Until recently, the site was a state prison. -
The announcement follows harsh criticism from the Trump administration about California and other states granting licenses to people in the country illegally.
Sponsored message
The extension comes just as it appears China and the U.S. finally may have a deal on TikTok's fate. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced they had a "framework" for a deal with China. Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to speak Friday to complete the deal, he said.
As he left the White House for a state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump told reporters about the potential agreement, saying, "We'll be announcing that we have a group of very big companies that want to buy it."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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