President Donald Trump has extended by 75 days the deadline for Chinese tech giant ByteDance to sell the U.S. assets of its popular short video app, TikTok, to a non-Chinese buyer.
The extension delays a potential ban that was originally set to take effect in January under a 2024 law targeting national security concerns.
“The deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed,” President Trump said on Friday, explaining the decision to prolong the deadline. The original expiration date was set for Saturday. “We hope to continue working in good faith with China, who I understand is not very happy about our reciprocal tariffs,” he added.
TikTok, used by nearly half of Americans, has been at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing. U.S. officials have cited concerns about data privacy and Chinese government influence, prompting efforts to shift TikTok’s ownership structure to reduce Chinese control.
According to reports by Reuters, ongoing negotiations led by the White House are focusing on a plan that would see ByteDance’s largest non-Chinese investors increase their stakes and acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations. The strategy includes spinning off TikTok into a new U.S.-based entity, with Chinese ownership reduced to below 20%, in line with American legal requirements.
Investment firms Susquehanna International Group, led by Jeff Yass, and General Atlantic, chaired by Bill Ford—both with board representation in ByteDance—are reportedly at the forefront of the negotiations. Retail giant Walmart is also said to be considering participation in the investment group, reviving interest it first expressed in 2020.
Despite U.S. momentum toward a deal, the biggest hurdle remains Chinese government approval. Beijing has yet to publicly confirm whether it will permit the sale of TikTok’s U.S. business.
President Trump, emphasizing the app’s popularity, stated, “We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark.’” However, he warned that failure to meet the new deadline could still result in a nationwide ban.
