President Trump has announced an extension of TikTok’s deadline to separate from its China-based owner, granting an additional 75 days. According to a statement on Truth Social, the White House needs more time for necessary approvals related to TikTok’s deal. Trump expressed a desire to cooperate with China, amidst tensions over recent tariffs on Chinese imports.
A prospective agreement regarding TikTok was delayed following the dismissal of a National Security Council official involved in coordinating the deal, as reported by a source linked to the discussions. The extension provides temporary relief for TikTok, which faced a federal ban in January unless it separated from ByteDance, the Chinese company owning the app. This ban was supported by a bipartisan consensus due to national security concerns.
TikTok’s legal challenge to the ban was unsuccessful, with the Supreme Court upholding the law. Following this, the app briefly shut down but resumed operations after Trump’s promise to delay enforcing the ban once in office. Subsequently, Trump issued an executive order postponing the ban by an additional 75 days, offering assurances to tech companies like Apple and Google, which host the app.
Despite Trump’s delays, the TikTok ban technically remains in force, though assurances from the administration have allowed the app to continue operating. Trump has noted significant interest from potential buyers of TikTok, a platform popular among more than 170 million Americans. January reports indicated that Oracle, a company led by Trump ally Larry Ellison, is a leading candidate to acquire a significant stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Oracle was also considered for a similar acquisition during Trump’s first term, an attempt that failed due to lack of regulatory approval from China. Approval from the Chinese government remains a complex element in the current negotiations, with insiders suggesting Beijing’s consent might be contingent on tariff negotiations.