President Donald Trump indicated Thursday that he would “probably” extend the April 5 deadline for TikTok’s sale, raising doubts over whether ByteDance will find a U.S. buyer in time. Speaking to reporters, Trump acknowledged the strong interest in acquiring the popular app but admitted, “China is going to play a role, so hopefully China will approve of the deal,” according to The New York Post.
The deadline extension, originally set at 75 days, was imposed after ByteDance missed its January 19 divestment deadline, briefly causing TikTok to go offline. Trump’s executive order allows for an additional 90-day extension if ByteDance shows progress toward a sale, Forbes reported.
Concerns Over Chinese Ownership
Lawmakers have long raised national security concerns about TikTok, fearing its algorithm could be manipulated by the Chinese Communist Party or used for mass data collection. Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance to fully divest its stake, though Trump has suggested a joint U.S.-China venture instead.
Vice President JD Vance is reportedly leading efforts to broker a sale, with potential buyers including billionaire Frank McCourt and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian recently joined the bid to rebuild TikTok’s algorithm on U.S. soil.
Geopolitical Tensions Add Complexity
Trump’s recent tariffs on Chinese goods further complicate negotiations. The president imposed an additional 10% tariff this week, escalating trade tensions. Beijing responded with retaliatory tariffs and new export controls targeting U.S. firms. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned, “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” as described by Forbes.
With just weeks left before the deadline, the fate of TikTok remains uncertain. While Trump appears open to extending negotiations, lawmakers insist any deal must ensure a full separation from China.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
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