Despite the looming threat of a TikTok ban passed into U.S. law, former President Donald Trump has now extended the deadline for the app’s sale or shutdown for the third time this year — and no one is really stopping him.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration confirmed that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, will once again be granted more time to find a U.S. buyer. The latest extension pushes back a Thursday deadline that was already rescheduled twice before — first in January, and again in April.
This ongoing cycle of delays has raised a fundamental question: Does anyone — including lawmakers who supported the ban — still care whether TikTok gets sold?
A Law Ignored in Plain Sight
The situation dates back to a bill passed by Congress in 2024 that gave ByteDance a clear ultimatum: sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company, or face a complete ban within a specified timeframe. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and was later upheld by the Supreme Court in January 2025.
It was billed as a necessary national security measure, based on concerns that TikTok’s Chinese ownership posed risks due to potential data access by the Chinese government.
But despite the law’s clarity, Trump issued an executive order in January to grant a 90-day extension — a move only legally allowed if there is an actual deal in place with binding agreements. At the time, there was no such deal.
He repeated the move in April. Now, he’s done it again.
China Still Holds the Cards
Even if a U.S. buyer were lined up and ready — which Trump officials claimed earlier this year — the transaction can’t proceed without approval from the Chinese government. So far, Beijing has not publicly weighed in, and with growing tensions between the U.S. and China over tariffs and trade, it’s unlikely that such a deal will be fast-tracked.
ByteDance, which has consistently pushed back against U.S. regulatory pressure, hasn’t signaled any serious plans to offload the platform either.
Meanwhile, Trump seems content to keep extending the timeline, brushing aside any constitutional or legal questions. The White House’s approach suggests that it views the sale-or-ban law more as a flexible guideline than a mandate.
Congress Goes Quiet
Even more surprising than Trump’s defiance of the law is the lack of resistance from Congress — the very body that passed the TikTok legislation. There’s been virtually no public backlash from lawmakers, no hearings, no attempts to enforce compliance.
This silence has prompted speculation that the threat of a TikTok ban may have always been more political than practical.
Some lawmakers may have assumed the mere pressure of the legislation would prompt ByteDance to act swiftly. Others might now be preoccupied with the 2025 election cycle or more urgent domestic issues. And some may simply prefer not to challenge Trump during a volatile political season.
National Security Threat… Or Not?
The entire saga exposes a stark contrast between past rhetoric and present action. Just a year ago, the TikTok debate dominated headlines, with leaders warning about the dangers of allowing a Chinese-owned app to gather data on millions of American users.
But the continued availability of TikTok in the U.S. and the absence of any governmental follow-through makes those warnings feel hollow.
If lawmakers genuinely believed the platform posed a grave risk, why allow the law to be disregarded? Why hasn’t anyone sought legal clarification or filed an injunction?
Business as Usual for TikTok
For now, TikTok continues operating as usual in the United States. The app remains widely used by creators, brands, and users of all ages. There’s been no disruption in service, no real sign that the company is scrambling to sell, and no enforcement of the supposed ban.
Even recent layoffs and internal memos urging staff to work remotely were framed more as efficiency measures than part of any looming crisis.
The Bottom Line
Donald Trump has managed to delay the implementation of a major tech regulation law not once, not twice, but three times — and there’s no sign he won’t do it again. Legally, it’s a questionable move. Politically, it’s going unchallenged.
And as for TikTok? Despite the storm of controversy that once surrounded it, the platform looks more secure than ever — at least for now.