Trump Indicates Possible Extension of TikTok Sale Deadline If No Deal Is Finalized
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Synopsis
On March 7, President Donald Trump suggested he might extend the TikTok sale deadline if an agreement isn't reached. This statement comes amid ongoing negotiations and significant interest from various potential buyers.
Key Takeaways
- Trump may extend TikTok sale deadline
- ByteDance has until April 5 to sell TikTok
- Interest from various potential buyers is high
- China's influence is crucial in the decision
- Concerns over national security persist
Washington, March 7 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump stated he would "probably" extend the deadline for a TikTok sale if an agreement isn't finalized by the original timeline.
When questioned by a reporter on whether he intends to extend the TikTok ban deadline if a deal isn't reached, Trump replied, "Probably, yeah."
"We have significant interest in TikTok," Trump mentioned during remarks at the Oval Office on Thursday, indicating that China will influence the outcome.
He did not specify how long an extension might be if necessary.
"At this moment, we have at least another month, so an extension isn't needed," he stated.
"However, if I require an extension, I would likely pursue one."
A law enacted last April under the Biden administration mandates that the popular China-owned social media platform must be sold to a U.S. owner or an ally, or face a ban due to national security concerns.
Trump enacted an executive order on January 20 that grants TikTok's parent company ByteDance an additional 75 days to secure a new owner.
These remarks come amidst uncertainty regarding TikTok's future after a turbulent couple of months for the application.
TikTok briefly ceased operations for around 12 hours in January before Trump signed the executive order extending the sale deadline.
Although the app was swiftly restored, it did not reappear in Google and Apple's app stores until mid-February.
The social media platform was promptly brought back online after Trump assured he would issue an executive order upon returning to office to provide the company with an extension. The President fulfilled that promise, allowing ByteDance until April 5 to finalize a divestment agreement.
Many potential buyers have shown interest in acquiring TikTok's U.S. division. This includes offers from YouTube sensation MrBeast and a collaborative proposal from former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Shark Tank star and investor Kevin O'Leary.
Trump has also mentioned various names, including his ally Elon Musk and Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
The President emphasized on Thursday that the deadline is still approximately a month away, "so we don't need an extension."
The likelihood of selling TikTok seemed bleak under the Biden administration after TikTok and ByteDance repeatedly asserted that divestment was not a viable option.
However, the Chinese government has increasingly hinted at a possible change of stance regarding the deal, though it remains unclear if any specific offer has made significant progress.
