On a significant Friday announcement, President Donald Trump declared that the enforcement of the law concerning the potential sale or ban of the popular social media app TikTok will be postponed for an additional 75 days. This decision is part of the ongoing efforts by his administration to negotiate a deal that would allow American users continued access to TikTok while addressing national security concerns linked to its parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China.
In a post shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump emphasized the hard work his administration has been dedicating to broker a satisfactory arrangement to “SAVE TIKTOK.” He indicated that while substantial progress has been made, the deal still requires further work to secure all necessary approvals. This announcement notably came just one day before a previously scheduled ban was set to be implemented, reflecting the administration’s desire to protect the app for its substantial user base in the United States.
The urgency surrounding this matter stems from a law signed by former President Joe Biden, which mandated that ByteDance relinquish ownership of TikTok or face a ban due to concerns over data security and the potential misuse of American users’ information. This law was initially intended to take effect in January, prompting Trump to initiate a delay upon taking office, with the hope of formulating a viable agreement to allow the app to continue operating within American borders.
Key figures in this ongoing negotiation include Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who has been appointed to spearhead discussions and potential deal-making efforts. In various conversations, they have expressed optimism about finalizing a deal by April 5. Insider sources familiar with the White House talks have revealed that Trump’s team is considering a deal where the bulk of TikTok’s U.S. assets would be sold to Oracle Corporation and other American investors, leaving ByteDance with only a minority stake in the app’s operations.
Despite the urgency of negotiations, Trump did not provide specific details regarding the potential arrangement in his latest post, though he acknowledged the need for more time to finalize the discussions satisfactorily. The promised delay in enforcing the ban implies that TikTok’s approximately 170 million American users will have continued access to the app, at least for the immediate future.
Nonetheless, the prolonged negotiation raises critical questions about TikTok’s sustainability and future in the American market. Despite various expressions of interest from potential buyers, the responses from ByteDance and the Chinese government have been less than encouraging, indicating a possible unwillingness to proceed with negotiations. Tensions between the United States and China have further complicated the situation, with an ongoing trade war characterized by mutual tariff increases, casting a shadow over any potential agreement.
Trump has expressed hope for a positive bilateral relationship moving forward, citing a desire for cooperation with China while addressing the unresolved issue of reciprocal tariffs. In his post, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to keeping TikTok operational in the United States, stating that they do not wish for it to “go dark.”
As discussions progress, it remains uncertain how Congress will react to this second delay, especially as lawmakers across the aisle largely perceive TikTok as a national security threat. The existing legislation stipulates that if a deal were to proceed, ByteDance’s ownership should not exceed 20% of the platform, and there should be no coordination between the U.S. operations and ByteDance on critical elements such as algorithm management or data sharing.
Attempting to maintain the app’s accessibility and security, TikTok previously went offline in the U.S. just before Inauguration Day, shortly returning online with a message thanking Trump for his intervention. Recently, TikTok reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration for a long-term solution that ensures the app’s continued presence in the U.S. market.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, has been notably present in discussions surrounding the app’s future, having attended the inauguration of President Trump alongside other prominent tech leaders. The story of TikTok’s future continues to evolve, with numerous updates and developments yet to unfold, keeping its vast user base and stakeholders on high alert as negotiations remain underway.