by Met Middleson

June 19, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order delaying enforcement of the TikTok divestment mandate for a third time, now pushing the deadline to September 17, 2025. The latest 90-day extension was announced on Truth Social, where Trump thanked followers for their attention to what he called a matter of national security. The original enforcement deadline under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was January 19, 2025, but has now been postponed three times.

The executive order explicitly blocks the Department of Justice from penalizing TikTok or any related entities during the delay period. It also requires the Attorney General to issue letters affirming that companies will not be held liable for any actions taken going back to January 19. A key section of the order warns state governments and private actors against taking independent enforcement steps, reaffirming that only the federal executive branch holds that authority.

This latest delay underscores the administration’s balancing act between national security warnings and political risk. While Trump continues to use strong rhetoric about banning TikTok, his repeated extensions raise questions about whether the White House intends to follow through or keep using the threat as leverage.