Trump Grants TikTok 75-Day Extension to Avoid US Ban
President Trump has granted TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with US law requiring the platform to sell its controlling stake or face a nationwide ban. This decision comes just one day before the previous deadline of April 5.
The popular social media app, which boasts over 170 million US users, must separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance to continue operating in the United States. Trump expressed his desire to keep TikTok operational, stating, "We do not want TikTok to go dark."
Hand holding phone displaying TikTok app
ByteDance confirms ongoing discussions with the Trump administration but notes that "an agreement has not been executed" and that "key matters" remain unresolved. Any potential deal would require approval under Chinese law.
Several potential buyers have emerged, including:
- Billionaire Frank McCourt
- Kevin O'Leary
- Blackstone
- Andreessen Horowitz and Perplexity AI
- Microsoft
- Amazon
The situation is complicated by current US-China trade tensions, with the US imposing 54% tariffs on Chinese imports and China retaliating with 34% counter-tariffs. Trump has suggested the possibility of reducing these tariffs in exchange for China's approval of a TikTok sale.
Vice President JD Vance is leading the administration's efforts to secure a buyer and maintain TikTok's operations in the US. The extension provides additional time to address national security concerns while preserving the platform's significant US presence.
The deal remains contingent on both ByteDance's willingness to sell and the Chinese government's approval, highlighting the complex intersection of technology, national security, and international trade relations.