Former President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for a deal concerning the popular short-form video app TikTok, which was originally set to go dark on April 5th. A law signed by President Joe Biden in April required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app by January 19th or face a ban in the United States. Trump’s executive order, however, had temporarily shielded TikTok from being managed by the Department of Justice for a period of 75 days, granting the app protection until the April deadline. The primary concern driving these actions has been national security.
U.S. officials are worried that the Chinese Communist Party could access personal information from TikTok’s U.S. users and potentially use the platform to influence young audiences with propaganda. During his presidency, Trump highlighted the importance of transferring control of TikTok from ByteDance to American investors, especially as he sought to win over younger voters during the 2020 election. On the eve of the deadline, Trump announced a 75-day extension for ByteDance to negotiate the sale of TikTok. This announcement was made via his social media platform, Truth Social, with the new deadline set for mid-June.
Several U.S. companies, including Oracle, AppLovin, Walmart, and Amazon, have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Additionally, a potential deal had previously emerged that would have resulted in American investors holding the majority stake in TikTok, while ByteDance maintained a minority interest. However, this agreement reportedly fell through due to increased tariffs on goods imported from China. For TikTok users in the U.S., the extension provides a reprieve, allowing continued access to the app while negotiations unfold, raising hopes for a resolution between the U.S. and China.