Trump extends TikTok deadline again

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order once again delaying enforcement of a TikTok ban after announcing the U.S. had a “framework” for a deal to keep the app available in the U.S. 

The latest extension pushes back the deadline to enforce a law, which requires TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to divest from the app or face a ban on U.S. networks and app stores, until Dec. 16. An earlier extension was set to expire Wednesday. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed Monday the U.S. had secured a “framework” for a TikTok deal during trade talks with Chinese officials. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to speak again Friday to complete the deal, Bessent said. 

With a deal in sight, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had suggested the president could again extend the deadline in order to get it signed, although he emphasized that “we’re not going to be in the business of having repetitive extensions.” 

The three-month extension is the fourth of its kind delaying enforcement of the divest-or-ban law, which was initially set to take effect in January. The measure passed Congress with large bipartisan majorities last year and was signed into law by former President Biden. 

However, Trump repeatedly vowed to “save” TikTok during his 2024 campaign and has pushed to reach a deal to keep the app available in the U.S. since taking office. His administration initially appeared near to an agreement in April, but the effort was scuttled by the announcement of reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including China.