The U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order this week to delay enforcement of the controversial TikTok sale-or-ban law by an additional 90 days, the White House announced Tuesday.

The move, aimed at keeping the app online for its 170 million American users, marks the third postponement of the law’s implementation.

The extension buys more time for ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. The original law—signed in 2024 by then-President Joe Biden—was created to address rising concerns over national security and data privacy risks tied to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision reflects Trump’s intent to avoid disruption to millions of users while ensuring any eventual deal satisfies security requirements.

“President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” Leavitt said. “This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.”

Although the law officially took effect on January 19, 2025, enforcement has repeatedly been delayed, with only a brief 14-hour outage in January interrupting service. Trump first extended the deadline by 75 days shortly after taking office, and later granted another delay, signaling his administration’s preference for a negotiated outcome over a blanket ban.

The latest extension comes amid delicate U.S.-China trade negotiations, in which TikTok has become a focal point. While the platform remains popular among Americans—particularly younger demographics—it has been a lightning rod for bipartisan scrutiny over fears of potential Chinese government access to user data.

The White House has not yet specified whether a potential buyer has been identified, but insiders suggest negotiations are progressing between ByteDance and multiple U.S.-based tech and investment firms.

The new 90-day window ensures that TikTok remains operational as discussions continue, offering reassurance to American content creators, influencers, and businesses that rely on the platform. Whether the reprieve leads to a sale or further legal battles remains to be seen. (ILKHA)