Donald Trump Prolongs Deadline for TikTok Ban

Trump Extends Tiktok Deadline

Donald Trump announced that he would grant Tiktok an additional 75 days to meet U.S. requirements or face a complete ban.

Biden Law on Tiktok’s Ownership

In April 2024, the Biden administration enacted a law that mandates Baitansa, the Chinese owners of the social media giant, to sell Tiktok, citing national security concerns related to foreign control of sensitive data.

The initial deadline was set for January 19, just before Trump’s second inauguration, but the new president opted to extend it by 75 days, moving the deadline to April 5th.

Now, Trump has announced an additional 75-day extension, allowing 170 million American Tiktok users to retain access to the app until mid-June.

In a statement on social media, Trump noted: “My administration worked diligently on the deal to preserve Tiktok, and we have made significant progress. The transaction still requires further work to ensure all necessary permits are signed, prompting me to issue an executive order to keep Tiktok operational and extend efforts for another 75 days.”

Trump linked his stance on the Chinese company to his recent implementation of tariffs worldwide, expressing, “We hope to continue working in good faith with China, which, as I understand, is not too pleased with our reciprocal tariffs (essential for fair and balanced trade between China and the USA!). This underscores that tariffs are a powerful economic tool and vital for our national security! We do not want Tiktok to ‘go dark.’ We are eager to collaborate with Tiktok and China to finalize the deal.”

Impact on the Music Industry

The potential ban on Tiktok in the USA could significantly affect the music industry. A recent report indicated that many of the top hits in the U.S. and the UK in 2024 were linked to trends on Tiktok.

Celebrities, including Lizzo and Kesha, have reacted to the temporary shutdown of the app earlier this year, with some describing it as an “anti-utopian” moment.