Donald Trump has no intention of letting TikTok disappear from the American landscape. In an interview broadcast on NBC News, the US president indicated that he would "extend" once again the June 19 deadline, which was supposed to mark the ban of the app if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, did not sell its American operations.
Unexpected support for TikTok
This is not the first time that the White House tenant has suspended the axe: the law, adopted in April 2024 with broad bipartisan support, initially provided for a ban as early as January 2025. Trump has already extended the deadline twice. Officially, the legislation only allows for a single 90-day extension in the event of "significant progress" towards a sale. Yet Trump assures that he will "continue to push back the deadline as long as necessary," even if it means flirting with illegality according to his opponents... and the law.
His attachment to TikTok seems as political as it is personal. "I have a soft spot for the app," he confided, referring to its success with young voters during the 2024 presidential election, which he won. "I won the young people by 36 points... and I bet on TikTok," he asserted. A statement that contrasts with the traditional Republican position on the issue.
Beyond the electoral aspect, TikTok's future is part of an economic tug-of-war with China. A deal was in the works to transfer TikTok's American operations to a company controlled by American investors. But the deal is frozen, with Beijing making it clear it would not approve the sale—especially after Washington announced punitive tariffs. Trump recently raised import duties to as much as 145% on Chinese goods.
“China wants a deal,” Trump said. “But I’m not going to remove tariffs to lure them to the table. I could lower them later, as part of a broader deal,” he added. For him, the surcharges are an essential negotiating lever.
At the same time, critics continue to point to national security risks and TikTok’s impact on young people’s mental health. ByteDance and the White House, for their part, are downplaying these concerns, insisting that the app is currently used by 170 million Americans.
With this newly announced expansion, TikTok remains accessible in the United States—at least until further notice. Between geopolitical interests, electoral calculations, and trade tensions, the app is emerging as a subject of negotiation that is as sensitive as it is strategic. June 19 could well be just another date in a saga that has yet to be over.
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