President Trump once again delays the enforcement of the TikTok sell-off law, signing a fourth executive order that gives China until Dec. 16 to secure a U.S.-based buyer or face a nationwide ban.
The state of play. The sale deadline has now been pushed back four times, as U.S. and Chinese officials struggle to agree on terms.
- Negotiations have become entangled in broader U.S.-China trade talks, with Beijing resisting any deal that looks like forced divestment.
- A proposed compromise would let TikTok’s U.S. partner lease its algorithm from China, rather than buy it outright, and grant the U.S. government a seat on the board of the new entity.
Why we care. Keeping TikTok alive in the U.S. means continued access to a major and highly engaged audience – plus, uncertainty over the platform’s legal status could disrupt advertising plans, budgets, and influencer partnerships. A change in ownership will also lead to changes in who controls data, algorithm access, and creative governance, which could influence how ad targeting works, what content is allowed, and how brands have to structure deals.
What they’re saying. Critics in Washington are increasingly uneasy with Trump’s repeated executive delays, which effectively sidestep a law Congress passed. If no deal closes, the president’s strategy could face stronger pushback in the Senate.
Bottom line. TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain. A sale looks closer than ever, but the outcome may fall short of the bill’s original intent to limit Chinese influence over the platform.
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