U.S. President Donald Trump stated he intends to extend the deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell its app's U.S. operations.
Possible Extension of TikTok Sale Deadline
Trump made this statement to reporters aboard Air Force One, asserting that the sale of TikTok would still proceed. He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping's approval would be necessary to finalize the deal.
"Probably, yeah," Trump responded when asked about extending the deadline beyond June 19. "Probably have to get China approval but I think we’ll get it."
Trump's Relationship with TikTok
Earlier, during his first term, Trump called for a total ban on TikTok due to allegations that the app could collect sensitive data for the Chinese Communist Party. After the 2024 elections, however, Trump "softened" his stance as TikTok was credited with boosting his support among younger voters.
"I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok," he stated in an NBC News interview, adding he would be open to granting more time for ByteDance to finalize a sale.
Legal and National Security Issues
TikTok attempted to challenge the legislation mandating its divestment in court, but the court sided with the U.S. government's argument that the platform posed potential national security risks. Lawmakers and intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that Beijing could exploit TikTok for propaganda or data harvesting. Reports indicate that Beijing was prepared to approve a TikTok divestment deal but backed out when Trump reintroduced tariffs on Chinese goods.
Thus, the ongoing delays regarding the sale of TikTok illustrate not only business concerns but also the political intricacies surrounding the future of this platform in the U.S.
