Trump Signals Possible Extension of TikTok Ban Deadline
President Donald Trump hinted on Thursday that he may extend the TikTok ban deadline once again if a deal to divest the platform’s U.S. operations is not reached in time.
The video-sharing app has been at the centre of ongoing national security debates, with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, under pressure to sell its U.S. operations.
When a reporter asked whether he plans to extend the deadline if a deal isn’t finalised, Trump replied bluntly, “Probably, yeah.”
The president went on to stress the level of interest in the platform. “We have a lot of interest in TikTok. China is going to play a role, so hopefully China will approve of the deal,” he said from the Oval Office.
“But they’re going to play a role.” He added for emphasis, “But we have a lot of interest in TikTok.”
Under Trump’s previous executive order, ByteDance was given extra time beyond the initial January deadline to divest TikTok amid national security concerns.
The app’s original U.S. ban took effect on January 19, causing TikTok to briefly go offline before being restored. Trump later extended the deadline until April 5 to allow time for negotiations.
Several high-profile buyers have shown interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. branch.
Offers have come from YouTube star MrBeast, a joint bid by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and investor Kevin O’Leary, and other potential suitors, including Elon Musk and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
Trump emphasised that the current deadline is still about a month away. “So we don’t need an extension. But if I need an extension, I will probably get it extended,” he said.
Under the Biden administration, talks of selling TikTok seemed unlikely after ByteDance consistently rejected divestment as a viable option.
The Chinese government, however, has shown subtle signs of potential approval, though it remains unclear whether any bids are making real headway.
The clock is ticking. TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain as negotiations continue.
