US President Donald Trump has once again pushed back the deadline for enforcing a ban on TikTok, giving the Chinese-owned app a reprieve until December 16. The decision marks the fourth delay since the law mandating TikTok’s separation from its parent company, ByteDance, was introduced.

The extension, signed through an executive order, comes despite Trump’s claim earlier this week that Washington and Beijing had reached a preliminary agreement on TikTok’s future ownership. 

“We have a deal on TikTok,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to depart for a state visit to Britain, noting that he would speak directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalize details.

TikTok, with nearly two billion users worldwide, has been at the center of a tense standoff between Washington and Beijing. US officials have long raised concerns about data security and the app’s potential ties to the Chinese government, claims TikTok has repeatedly denied. 

The company insists it does not share user data with authorities in Beijing and has fought restrictions in court.

According to reports, the latest framework would give an American-led investor consortium control of TikTok’s US operations. Oracle, already a key player in TikTok’s infrastructure, and venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz are said to be among the leading investors. 

ByteDance, however, would still retain a 20 percent stake under the proposed structure. One unresolved issue is the fate of TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, the driving force behind its explosive global popularity.

The deal was shaped in part by talks held in Madrid between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, underscoring the geopolitical weight of the negotiations. 

Both governments have publicly acknowledged that a “framework” exists, though final approval hinges on Trump’s upcoming call with Xi.

The White House’s repeated extensions highlight the complex legal and diplomatic hurdles involved in reshaping ownership of such a powerful global platform. 

While the order shields TikTok from enforcement action until mid-December, it also prevents retroactive penalties for actions dating back to January 19, the date the original ban was set to take effect, just before Trump’s second inauguration.