President Donald Trump indicated he would “probably” extend the April 5 deadline for TikTok’s sale or ban, raising doubts about an impending deal after previously expressing optimism that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, would finalize an agreement with a U.S. buyer.
Key Facts
During a press conference on Thursday, Trump stated he would “probably” be willing to extend the 75-day deadline imposed via executive order in January. He remarked, “We have a lot of interest in TikTok… so hopefully China will approve of the deal.” On January 19, TikTok briefly went offline for about 12 hours, a day before the Congress-imposed deadline for ByteDance to secure a buyer, but was restored following Trump’s assurance of a deadline extension. However, the law permits Trump to extend the deadline for a maximum of 90 days and only if there is evidence that ByteDance is progressing toward a sale.
Key Background
Last year, Congress enacted legislation mandating the sale of TikTok, driven by concerns that the Chinese government might exploit the app for user surveillance. Despite this, ByteDance has shown reluctance to sell and has denied any collaboration with the Chinese government, although multiple reports have highlighted its ties to Beijing. In 2022, Forbes revealed that ByteDance had used TikTok as a means to monitor several Forbes journalists.
Trump’s push to salvage TikTok marks a shift from his earlier administration, during which he took significant actions to limit the app’s presence in the U.S., including a failed ban that faced legal challenges. Recently, he has suggested the U.S. could establish a “joint venture” to own 50% of TikTok, potentially facilitated by a sovereign wealth fund. Last month, Trump appointed Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Walz to oversee potential sale negotiations.
What We Don’t Know
There is uncertainty regarding how Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on China might influence Beijing’s willingness to approve a TikTok sale. Trump recently levied an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, augmenting a previous 10% tariff introduced earlier this year. In retaliation, China has responded with its own tariffs and export controls affecting 15 U.S. companies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian cautioned on Tuesday that China is prepared to engage in “war,” whether it be a tariff war, trade war, or another conflict.
