Apple has once again decided to keep TikTok on its App Store, at least for now. This temporary reprieve comes after receiving assurances from Attorney General Pam Bondi, following President Trump’s extension of the deadline for ByteDance to sell its US operations. The extension grants TikTok a 75-day grace period, pushing back the potential ban on the popular video-sharing app.
Attorney General Bondi’s letter to Apple reportedly assures the company that adhering to Trump’s extended deadline will not result in penalties. This action echoes a similar assurance given in February, when TikTok was briefly removed from the App Store after the initial deadline passed. Apple itself has yet to publicly comment on the situation.
This latest development comes in the wake of President Trump’s announcement of cumulative tariffs totaling 54% on Chinese goods. Interestingly, Trump previously hinted at the possibility of reducing these tariffs to facilitate a deal for ByteDance to divest its US TikTok holdings. He stated that while TikTok is a significant entity, the value of each percentage point in tariffs outweighs the app’s worth. This suggests a complex interplay between trade policy and the future of TikTok in the US market.
The ongoing saga surrounding TikTok highlights the precarious position of the app within the broader geopolitical landscape. The national security concerns raised by the US government, coupled with the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, create a volatile environment for the popular social media platform. Whether this latest extension marks a true turning point or simply another temporary delay in the inevitable remains to be seen. The coming 75 days will likely be critical in determining TikTok’s ultimate fate in the United States.
