U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok's potential U.S. ban for the fourth time, pushing it to December 16, 2025, following talks with China that yielded a preliminary framework for resolving ownership concerns over the popular short-video app.

In an executive order issued Tuesday, September 17, 2025, Trump postponed enforcement of a 2024 law requiring ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent, to divest its U.S. operations or face shutdown. The move comes after Madrid negotiations where U.S. and Chinese officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng, reached a "framework" addressing national security issues like data access and influence operations.

Trump, posting on Truth Social Monday, called the discussions "VERY WELL" and hinted at a deal to "save" the app favored by young Americans. He plans to confirm details in a Friday call with President Xi Jinping.

Bessent, on CNBC Tuesday, said the framework emerged after Trump indicated readiness to let TikTok "go dark." The agreement may involve U.S.-led ownership, potentially including a new entity, but Beijing's export controls on key technologies like the recommendation algorithm – imposed in 2020 – have previously blocked similar deals, such as one with Oracle and Walmart during Trump's first term.

The law, signed by President Joe Biden, allows a one-time 90-day extension for sale progress but has faced no legal challenge over Trump's repeated delays, the latest from September 17. Congressional reactions vary: Senate Foreign Relations Democrats demanded full compliance, warning against allowing Chinese control over content, while House Republicans on the China Committee insisted on severing ByteDance's algorithms and operations.

Support for a ban has waned, dropping to 34% among U.S. adults in a February-March 2025 Pew survey from 50% in 2023. Both Trump and Biden used TikTok in their 2024 campaigns, with the White House launching an official account last month. TikTok, boasting 170 million U.S. users, argues a ban violates First Amendment rights by limiting foreign media access. Some lawmakers question evidence of Beijing's content manipulation.

The extension ties into broader U.S.-China trade talks, including tariffs and tech restrictions, with Trump seeking assurances on Chinese stakes in the app.