Trump Pushes Tiktok Ban to December Amid China Talks, Legal Disputes

For the fourth time, President Donald Trump has delayed enforcement of a law that would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a nationwide ban. The new deadline, set by executive order on Tuesday, extends to December 16, 2025.

The delay comes as U.S. and Chinese officials advance negotiations over TikTok’s ownership. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a preliminary framework has been reached, with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to speak later this week.

The bipartisan law, upheld by the Supreme Court, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or see it removed from U.S. app stores and servers. Trump has repeatedly postponed enforcement, allowing Apple and Google to keep the platform online.

National security concerns continue to fuel the debate, with lawmakers and intelligence officials warning Beijing could exploit the app for surveillance or propaganda. Trump once sought to ban TikTok outright but has recently praised the platform’s reach among young voters. The White House even launched its own TikTok account.

Despite repeated claims of a pending sale, no final agreement has been disclosed. Past talks have included U.S. companies such as Oracle and Silver Lake, but any deal requires Beijing’s approval. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has warned the app could “go dark” if China refuses to compromise, insisting U.S. investors must control TikTok’s technology and algorithm.

Legal scholars say Trump’s refusal to enforce the law raises constitutional concerns. Documents obtained through lawsuits show Attorney General Pam Bondi assured tech companies they will not be penalized, citing Trump’s argument that an abrupt shutdown would undermine foreign policy and national security.

“You can’t declare something lawful just by choosing not to enforce it,” said Zachary Price of UC Law San Francisco. Others suggest Trump may be delaying to keep TikTok’s market value intact for a potential sale. “If you shut it down, you might kill the deal entirely,” said Anupam Chander of Georgetown.

Frustration is mounting in Congress. “The courts have been really clear on this. We ought to enforce the law,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, while Rep. Dan Newhouse urged the administration to act.

For now, TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, trapped between geopolitics, legal challenges, and presidential discretion.