Trump extends TikTok sale deadline amid ongoing talks with buyers and China
US President Donald Trump has announced a 75-day extension to the deadline for TikTok’s sale or divestment, postponing a potential ban of the social media platform in the United States.
What’s Up With TikTok’s Future in the U.S.?
In a tweet on Truth Social, President Ron B. announced that the U.S. government is once more pushing back the deadline to force TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, either to sell its U.S. operations or go dark. The original deadline – January 19 – was first moved to April 5, and now it’s stashed in the middle of June.
The Big Idea Behind the Delay
Trump claimed the deal needs another nudge to get all the necessary paperwork signed. “The TikTok deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed,” he said. Meanwhile, ByteDance insists no buy‑sell agreement has yet been hammered out and that any transaction still needs the green light from the Chinese government.
Who’s Eyeing TikTok?
- Oracle‑led consortium
- Retail giants Amazon & Walmart
- Asset manager Blackstone
- Billionaire Frank McCourt
- A crypto foundation
- Even OnlyFans founder
All of them were ready to swoop in, but ByteDance repeatedly argues that pulling TikTok out of the U.S. is practically impossible due to legal, commercial, and tech roadblocks. Their case files even call a forced sale “simply not possible.”
How Trade Wars Get Involved
Just days after slamming massive tariffs on 60 countries, Trump floated the idea that easing the 54% U.S. tariff on China’s goods could be a bargaining chip for TikTok. “We have a situation with TikTok where China will probably say we’ll approve a deal, but will you do something on the tariffs,” he mused from Air Force One. “The tariffs give us great power to negotiate.”
In a more diplomatic follow‑up, he said, “We hope to continue working in good faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our reciprocal tariffs. We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark.’ We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the deal.”
What’s the Bottom Line?
As June approaches, the U.S. may have to decide whether TikTok stays or goes. The platform’s vibrant community of 170 million U.S. users and its coveted algorithm make it a hot commodity for corporate players. Whether it ends up in public service or in a shareholder’s pocket, TikTok’s next chapter could trigger a high‑stakes showdown that blends tech, trade, and politics.
