On August 22, 2025, President Donald Trump stood before reporters at the White House and delivered a message that many had been eagerly awaiting: the future of TikTok in the United States, after months of uncertainty, was still up in the air. But, as he made clear, it wasn’t the end of the road just yet. Instead, the president hinted at yet another possible extension of the long-debated ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform, leaving ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, and millions of American users in a familiar state of suspense.
“I haven’t spoken with President Xi about this issue. When the time is right, when we’re ready, I will,” Trump told the press, according to CNN. “While we wait for these complicated issues to be resolved, we’ll extend [TikTok] a little bit longer.” His words echoed the administration’s ongoing approach: a combination of tough rhetoric, legal maneuvering, and, at times, surprising flexibility.
The TikTok saga has been a rollercoaster since 2024, when a new U.S. law mandated that the app must cease operations in the country by January 19, 2025, unless ByteDance divested its American operations. But as the deadline loomed, Trump’s administration repeatedly delayed enforcement. In June 2025, the president granted a third 90-day reprieve, pushing the cut-off to September 17, 2025. Now, with that date fast approaching, the possibility of further extensions is once again on the table.
“I am a fan of TikTok. My kids like TikTok. Young people love TikTok. If we can keep it, that’s great,” Trump said, voicing a sentiment that many Americans—especially younger ones—would likely agree with. He added, “We’ll continue to watch for security issues. And we have buyers, American companies.”
This is not just political posturing. The president confirmed that there are American investors ready to step in and acquire TikTok’s U.S. assets, a move that could potentially satisfy lawmakers’ concerns about foreign control and data privacy. “We have American investors ready to buy TikTok and we may continue to extend the deadline to allow ByteDance to divest,” Trump told reporters, as reported by Tin tức 24h.
Yet, for all the talk of national security, Trump downplayed the risks that have fueled bipartisan anxiety in Washington. “Concerns about privacy and national security related to the TikTok app have been overblown,” he insisted, dismissing the chorus of voices from both sides of the aisle who have warned about the dangers of Chinese data collection and influence. “The government will monitor any arising issues,” he said, suggesting a willingness to keep TikTok under close watch rather than pull the plug outright.
The timing of these statements is hardly coincidental. Just days earlier, on August 19, 2025, the White House made a splash by launching its own official TikTok channel—a remarkable reversal, given the administration’s previous threats to ban the platform outright. The move underscored TikTok’s enduring popularity and the administration’s recognition of its power as a tool for reaching voters, especially young people.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained the rationale behind the new TikTok outreach. “The administration is committed to communicating the historic successes that President Trump has brought to the American people through more audiences and better forums,” she stated. “President Trump’s message has dominated TikTok throughout his presidential campaign. We are excited to build on that success and communicate in a way that no other administration has done before.”
This embrace of TikTok, even as its future remains uncertain, reflects the complicated relationship between the app and American politics. On one hand, lawmakers have pressed hard for a ban, citing the 2024 law and ongoing fears about Chinese government access to user data. On the other, the administration has recognized the app’s massive influence and the risks of alienating a generation of digitally savvy voters.
According to Tin tức 24h, the law passed in 2024 was clear: TikTok must cease U.S. operations unless ByteDance sells its American interests. The repeated extensions—culminating in the current September 17, 2025, deadline—have given ByteDance more time to find a buyer and negotiate terms, but have also left the company and its users in limbo.
Meanwhile, the broader debate over TikTok has touched on everything from free speech and digital privacy to U.S.-China relations. Some critics argue that the administration’s shifting stance—alternately threatening a ban and then extending deadlines—has sent mixed signals to both allies and adversaries. Others see it as a pragmatic response to a complex problem: balancing national security with economic interests and the realities of a global digital economy.
Trump’s comments about eventually speaking with Chinese President Xi Jinping add another layer of intrigue. “I will talk to President Xi about the TikTok issue at the appropriate time,” he said, leaving open the possibility of a high-level diplomatic intervention. Whether such a conversation will break the deadlock remains to be seen, but it’s clear that TikTok’s fate is now tied not just to U.S. law and politics, but also to the broader dynamics of the U.S.-China relationship.
For now, TikTok’s millions of American users—along with ByteDance and potential U.S. investors—are left waiting for the next move. Will the administration extend the deadline again? Will a deal finally be struck to transfer ownership to American hands? Or will the law ultimately force TikTok to shut down in the United States?
As the September 17 deadline approaches, the only certainty is uncertainty. President Trump’s remarks and the White House’s new TikTok channel suggest a willingness to keep the platform alive, at least for now. But with politics, business, and international diplomacy all in play, the story is far from over. For TikTok, its users, and the wider world, the coming weeks promise yet another chapter in a saga that has already defied easy answers.
