Trump Extends TikTok Deadline Amid Ongoing U.S.-China Trade Talks

President TRUMP has signaled another potential delay in the September 17 deadline for TikTok's Chinese owner to divest the popular app. The extension coincides with high-stakes U.S.-China trade negotiations in Spain, where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are attempting to ease tensions between the economic superpowers.

"We may let it die, or we may, I don't know, it depends, up to China," Trump remarked ambiguously when pressed about TikTok's fate. The president has repeatedly pushed back the deadline—first to April, then June, and now September—citing ongoing discussions with potential American buyers while avoiding a definitive resolution.

The WHITE House has yet to confirm the latest extension, but the pattern of delays suggests Trump is hedging his bets. A ban would disrupt 170 million U.S. users and risk alienating younger voters ahead of the election. Meanwhile, Washington lawmakers maintain a hardline stance on Chinese tech platforms, creating a policy tug-of-war with no clear endpoint.