In a surprise move, President Trump has announced a second 75-day delay to the ByteDance divest-or-ban law, effectively extending the deadline for TikTok's Chinese owner to sell or reduce its stake in the company. The decision, revealed on Truth Social, marks a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the popular social media platform.

The initial 75-day delay, announced last year, was set to expire this weekend. However, Trump's latest executive order will allow TikTok to continue operating in the US for an additional 75 days. The move is seen as a bid to give negotiations between the US government and ByteDance more time to reach a deal, despite several publicly announced bids to buy TikTok.

Trump took to Truth Social to explain the reasoning behind his decision, stating that his administration has made "tremendous progress" on a deal to save TikTok. He emphasized the need for further work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, citing the importance of reciprocal tariffs in achieving fair and balanced trade between China and the US.

The development comes amid ongoing concerns about national security and data privacy, with many lawmakers and experts expressing reservations about TikTok's ties to the Chinese government. Despite these concerns, Trump's administration has been working to find a solution that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the US, albeit with certain restrictions.

The delay is likely to be welcomed by TikTok's millions of users in the US, who had been facing the prospect of the app being banned or severely restricted. However, it remains to be seen whether the additional 75 days will be sufficient to reach a deal that satisfies all parties involved.

Industry observers will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds, with potential buyers such as Amazon and Perplexity waiting in the wings. The fate of TikTok remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the implications of this decision will be felt far beyond the world of social media.

In related news, Democrats have warned that Trump's plans to save TikTok may ultimately fail to keep the app online, citing concerns about the lack of concrete progress in negotiations. As the situation continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the battle for TikTok's future is far from over.