Former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted TikTok a second 75-day extension to comply with a law requiring the popular video app to either sell its U.S. operations or face a ban in the country. Trump announced the extension on his Truth Social platform, stating, “We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark.’ We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal.” TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
The initial extension was granted shortly after Trump took office in January and was set to expire on Saturday. TikTok, which boasts over 170 million users in the U.S., must either shut down operations or find a buyer under a law passed by Congress. ByteDance confirmed ongoing discussions with the Trump administration but noted that “an agreement has not been executed” and that any deal would require approval under Chinese law.
The Biden administration had previously raised concerns that TikTok could be exploited by China for espionage and political manipulation. In response, Congress passed a bipartisan law giving ByteDance six months to divest its controlling stake in TikTok or face a ban in the U.S.
Opponents of the ban argue that it threatens freedom of speech, emphasizing TikTok’s role as a vital platform for expression and content sharing. The new extension comes as the Trump administration works to finalize a deal that would keep TikTok operating in the U.S.
Trump also noted that the deal requires further work to secure all necessary approvals. A deal was reportedly close to completion on Wednesday but fell apart after Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, including those targeting China. This led ByteDance to inform the White House that China would no longer approve the deal unless tariff negotiations were addressed.
The Chinese embassy in Washington criticized practices that “violate the basic principles of the market economy,” reflecting tensions over trade policies. China currently faces a 54% aggregate tariff on goods imported into the U.S., with retaliatory tariffs of 34% from China.
Several potential buyers have shown interest in acquiring TikTok, including Amazon, billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Other contenders reportedly include Microsoft, Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz, and Perplexity AI.
Trump has indicated his administration is in discussions with four groups interested in the deal, with Vice President JD Vance leading the effort. Trump has also suggested that the U.S. could offer China a deal where TikTok’s sale approval is tied to relief from U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.
“We hope to continue working in good faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs,” Trump wrote. He emphasized that these tariffs are a critical economic tool for national security.
