Trump says he’ll ‘likely’ give TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid ban

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will “likely” give TikTok a 90-day extension to complete a deal with a U.S. company in order to avoid a ban in the country. The popular video-sharing app has been at the center of a national security debate, with the Trump administration claiming that the app poses a threat to the privacy and security of American users.

In a press briefing, Trump stated that he wants to give TikTok more time to work out a deal that will satisfy the concerns of the U.S. government. He mentioned that he has been in touch with several companies that are interested in acquiring the app’s U.S. operations, including Oracle and Walmart.

“I’m not extending deadlines, no. It’s a great asset, but it’s not a great asset in the United States unless they have the approval of the United States,” Trump said.

The president’s announcement comes after he signed an executive order earlier this month that would ban TikTok from operating in the U.S. if it did not find a American buyer by September 20. The order cited national security concerns and accused the Chinese-owned app of collecting user data and sharing it with the Chinese government.

TikTok has denied these allegations and has said that it stores user data in the U.S. and Singapore, not in China. The company has also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the ban and accusing the government of depriving its users of due process.

The potential deal with Oracle and Walmart is still in the works, with both companies vying for a stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations. Trump has indicated that he would support a deal that allows a U.S. company to have a majority stake in the app, ensuring that American user data is protected.

While the 90-day extension gives TikTok some breathing room, the clock is still ticking for the app to finalize a deal that satisfies the U.S. government’s concerns. The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, but for now, it seems that the app has been given a temporary reprieve from a potential ban.