In brief
As negotiations continue, TikTok faces pressure to sell from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or risk removal from US platforms.
US President Donald Trump has announced a new 75-day extension for TikTok to comply with federal regulations, allowing the widely-used video app to avoid an impending ban. The extension grants TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, additional time to either find an American buyer or face shutdown in the U.S. “We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark,’” Trump stated on Truth Social, expressing a desire to collaborate with TikTok and China for a successful resolution.The previous deadline was set to expire this weekend following Trump’s first extension after assuming office in January. With over 170 million users in the United States, TikTok is seen as a major platform that could be impacted by new legislation deeming it a security risk potentially linked to the Chinese government. ByteDance representatives have confirmed ongoing discussions with the Trump administration but noted that a final agreement has yet to be achieved due to unresolved issues, including requirements under Chinese law. The bipartisan legislation passed by Congress a year ago mandated that ByteDance must divest its controlling stake in TikTok within six months or risk the app's discontinuation in the U.S.Despite arguments about free speech in favor of keeping TikTok operational, the Trump administration is keen on facilitating a sale to bring the platform under American control. Notably, a deal appeared close to finalization earlier this week, but discussions collapsed after Trump announced new tariffs impacting China, leading Chinese officials to withdraw their support unless tariff negotiations resumed.Potential acquirers have emerged in the aftermath, with Amazon reportedly making a late bid to acquire TikTok. Other interested investors include billionaire Frank McCourt and Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, as well as computing giant Microsoft and private equity firm Blackstone. Vice-President JD Vance is leading efforts to finalize these negotiations, with Trump highlighting interest from multiple groups. The president has also suggested that the U.S. could offer tariff relief on Chinese imports in exchange for a faster TikTok sale, reinforcing the importance of the ongoing negotiations to national security.
