The clock just never seems to run out for TikTok.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order granting the wildly popular social media app another 90 days to strike a deal to sell itself to a buyer deemed fit by US officials or face a federal ban. The newest extension pushes the deadline to Sept. 17.
The ban was originally set to take affect back in January, but has now been pushed back three times by Trump, who has both admitted a fondness for TikTok and repeatedly promised to not take the app away from Americans.
Both TikTok and the Chinese government have consistently opposed a sale of the company's US operations, and it remains unclear if their positions have changed. In addition, in the months since Trump took office, his administration and China have become mired in a tariff war that has heightened tensions between the two countries and shaken global markets.
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Lawmakers in both political parties have long voiced concerns that TikTok could be a threat to national security and could be used by the Chinese government to spy on Americans or spread misinformation to further China's agenda. TikTok continues to deny those accusations.
The law requiring the sale was passed by Congress last year with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by former President Joe Biden. Free speech advocates and other groups sued to overturn the law on First Amendment grounds, but it was upheld by the Supreme Court in January.
So what's next for TikTok? Here's what you need to know.
Watch this: US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next 02:15
What does the law do?
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