A quick update on the TikTok U.S. saga: The app is still technically banned in the U.S., based on the Senate-approved sell-off bill that went into effect on January 19th.
But even so, TikTok is still operating as normal for Americans, due to a stay of execution from U.S. President Donald Trump, while Trump also remains hopeful of finding an alternative to keep TikTok available in the nation.
Which Trump now says could see him extend the TikTok sell-off deadline once again, if a deal cannot be established by the end of this latest period.
Which seems like a pretty clear violation of executive privilege in this respect, but that’s where we’re at.
As a reminder of the current TikTok-U.S. situation:
- In April last year, the U.S. Senate approved the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” which gave TikTok nine months to negotiate a deal with a U.S.-based owner in order to remain in operation in the region.
- After various failed legal challenges, that bill officially went into effect on January 19th, but on January 20th, shortly after his inauguration, incoming U.S. President Donald Trump granted a 75-day hold on enforcement of the new law, which gave TikTok till April this year to establish a sell-off arrangement.
- After rumors of various potential U.S. partners, TikTok failed to announce an agreement by April, which prompted Trump to announce yet another 75-day extension, via Executive Order, which, again, is less an extension and more a hold order that instructs U.S. authorities not to enforce the law.
The current extension, then, gives TikTok till the 18th of June to establish a sell-off deal with a viable U.S. partner. And while various names have been suggested as likely candidates, no concrete details have emerged, though that’s also likely due to the rising U.S.-China trade war, which has effectively shelved TikTok negotiations for the time being.
Because the Chinese government will ultimately decide if TikTok can be sold to a U.S. business. And right now, Chinese officials are refusing to deal with the White House on specifics, due to Trump’s decision to implement massive tariffs on Chinese imports.
With that as a backdrop, there is some justification in Trump extending the negotiation period once again, though there are also, theoretically at least, limits on how long Trump can continue to delay the enforcement of a Senate-approved law via advisory from the White House.
But right now at least, it’s looking like a permanent foundation for TikTok in the U.S. is contingent on U.S.-China relations, which don’t look set to improve anytime soon. Which could mean that TikTok remains in regulatory limbo, and at Trump’s mercy, for the foreseeable future.
