- TikTok nearly got banned earlier this year
- However, President Trump saved it at the 11th hour
- Is the popular video-sharing app still at risk?
Is TikTok actually getting banned? Despite coming close to the end, the popular video-sharing app isn’t out of the woods just yet.
In early 2025, the app was forced to comply with a new law forcing its Chinese owners ByteDance to sell to an American owner or face a country-wide ban. The reason behind this move was pinned to national security worries and a Chinese-owned app potentially harvesting data from millions of American users.
Read more: TikTokers share secrets ahead of ban in new trend
After briefly going dark on American app stores after 19 January, it was reinstated thanks to an executive order signed as soon as Trump took office a day later.
The newly-elected President wasted no time granting a 75-day extension. This effectively bought ByteDance more time to either sell up or wave goodbye to American users.
Read more: TikTok users share reaction to app going dark
Despite spilling some things they probably wish they hadn’t pre-ban, users were overjoyed that the app continued as usual.
That said, questions remain: What happens when Trump’s 75-day extension runs out? Could it actually be gone forever?
Here’s what we know.
When does Trump’s TikTok extension run out?
President Trump’s TikTok extension came into effect on his first day in office, which was 20 January 2025.
Signed via an executive order, it gave ByteDance an additional 75-days to find a new American owner. This means it will run out on Saturday 5 April 2025.
Will Trump extend the TikTok deadline?
While it remains to be seen what will happen between now and 5 April, the President has hinted to the idea that he could potentially grant the app an extension beyond their 75-day limit.
Speaking in early February, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the option for an extension was there but he didn’t feel it would be necessary.
“Well, I have 90 days from about two weeks ago, and I’m sure it can be extended,” said Trump, as per Reuters, “but let’s see. I don’t think you’ll need to.”
Reuters highlighted that it wasn’t immediately clear what Trump was referring to with his mention of “90 days”.
The President also said he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would ultimately agree to sell the app to a US-based owner.
“I’m going to make it worthwhile for China to do,” said Trump, cryptically. “I think it would be to China’s advantage to have the deal be made.”
Who might buy it?
In the days following Trump’s 75-day extension, a number of potential buyers emerged. These included social media star Mr Beast, Elon Musk and even Shark Tank host Kevin O’Leary.
Read more: Is Mr Beast buying TikTok?
When asked if he’d be open to Musk buying the platform, Trump told reporters “I would be if he wanted to buy it, yes.”
He also seemed amenable to Trump supporter Larry Ellison taking the reigns, saying “I’d like Larry to buy it, too.”
Others to express an interest in buying the app include billionaire investor Frank McCourt. However, despite all these potential new owners, ByteDance has yet to sell the app.
In fact, it has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.
What happens if ByteDance doesn’t find a new buyer?
Technically, even once Trump’s 75-day extension has passed, the President could still decide to keep the app available to American users.
According to outlets like the BBC, President Trump could allow the same law that impacted the app to remain but instruct the Department of Justice to turn a blind eye.
In effect, this would mean companies like Apple and Google would avoid any punishment for keeping the product on the app stores and allowing US users to download it.
That said, the decision regarding whether places like Apple and Google would actually do this remains in the hands of each company.
