President Trump has extended TikTok's operational window in the United States by 75 days through a new executive order, though Apple and Google continue to block new app installations from their stores.

The extension gives ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, additional time to address national security concerns and potentially restructure ownership. Trump has emphasized his desire for at least 50% U.S. ownership of the platform.

Trump values the platform's potential worth at up to $1 trillion with his approval, but claims it would be "worthless" without a deal. He's suggested the U.S. should receive half of TikTok's value, potentially around $500 billion, as part of any agreement.

The president has expressed particular concern about TikTok's data collection practices regarding young users, stating, "TikTok is largely about kids, young kids. If China is going to get information about young kids out of it, to be honest, I think we have bigger problems than that."

The law, signed by President Biden, requires ByteDance to either divest from TikTok or face continued restrictions in the U.S. market. While Trump has mentioned the possibility of a joint venture ownership structure, he hasn't provided specific details about this proposal. When questioned about TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's stance on these developments, Trump simply stated, "he's around."

Diplomatic context for these negotiations includes Chinese Vice President Han Zheng's attendance at yesterday's inauguration, notably replacing Xi Jinping, who had been personally invited by Trump. This marks a departure from the traditional practice of ambassadorial representation at presidential inaugurations.

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