The U.S. President on Thursday signed an executive order, announced on his Truth Social platform, extending the deadline for a sale for another 90 days.

Two previous extensions granted by Trump have already expired without the promised solution.

According to a law signed under former president Joe Biden, TikTok should have been sold by January 19, or taken offline in the U.S.

However, Trump granted a 75-day extension when he took office in January.

Even then, he held out the prospect of a further extension if necessary, despite the law not providing for either of these steps.

Earlier this year, Trump then promised lower additional tariffs for China in exchange for the government’s approval of the TikTok sale.

“Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done,” he said at the time.

Trump had tried to ban TikTok in 2020 during his first presidency by issuing an executive order, but U.S. courts thwarted the move.

Since the last election campaign, however, he has warmed to the app.

TikTok’s algorithm, which decides which videos users see next, is a key point of contention.

TikTok critics warn that the Chinese government could use the algorithm to influence public opinion in the U.S., which TikTok and Bytedance have always denied.

The law stipulates that neither the Chinese government nor Bytedance may have control over the algorithm.

Under Chinese law, the government in Beijing must approve the sale of software algorithms abroad.

(www.crestnewsonline.ng)