U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok to comply with a law requiring the popular video app to either sell its U.S. operations or face a potential ban in the country. The new 75-day extension comes after Trump’s first extension, granted earlier this year, was set to expire on Saturday.
“We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark,'” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal.” The platform, which boasts more than 170 million U.S. users, is owned by Chinese company ByteDance.
Under a law passed by Congress, TikTok must either find a buyer or face being blocked in the U.S. The deadline for the sale was set after concerns were raised by former President Joe Biden’s administration, which argued that TikTok could potentially be used by China for spying and political manipulation.
ByteDance confirmed on Friday that it had been in talks with the Trump administration but noted that “an agreement has not been executed.” The company added that any deal would require approval from Chinese authorities. “There are key matters to be resolved,” a ByteDance spokesperson said.
The issue has been controversial in the U.S., with some lawmakers and activists citing concerns over freedom of speech and digital privacy if TikTok were to be banned. Meanwhile, others argue that the app should remain operational to protect user rights and maintain a platform for free expression.
Trump’s administration has sought to broker a deal to allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. while bringing the app under American ownership. “The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed,” Trump wrote in his recent statement. The administration has been working on securing a potential sale but is still facing hurdles.
As the deadline for a potential TikTok sale approaches, several companies have emerged as potential buyers. Amazon is among the late entrants, reportedly making a bid to acquire the platform. Other interested parties include billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, as well as tech giants Microsoft, Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz, and Perplexity AI.
A deal nearly reached earlier this week fell apart after Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, including new taxes on Chinese imports. ByteDance representatives informed the White House that China would not approve the deal unless tariff negotiations were addressed. The Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the move, calling it a violation of market economy principles.
While no formal agreement has been reached, the Trump administration is reportedly in talks with four separate groups interested in acquiring TikTok. The president has also hinted at a potential trade-off, suggesting that a sale could be tied to relief from U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.
“We hope to continue working in good faith with China,” Trump wrote, acknowledging Beijing’s frustration over the tariffs. “These tariffs are the most powerful economic tool, and they are important to our national security.” As the negotiations continue, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.
