President Trump said Thursday that he would “probably” extend the deadline for the sale of China-owned Tiktok if conditions are reached on April 5 before the 75-day window of negotiations expires.
Until that day, Trump will need to find a buyer for Tiktok after issuing an executive order delaying enforcement of the federal ban for 75 days. Tiktok, led by CEO Shou Zi Chew, went offline briefly in January after missing the January 19 deadline for a full sale in January.
When asked whether to seek an extension to avoid banning Tiktok, if necessary, Trump said, “Perhaps it is.”
“We have a lot of interest in Tiktok,” Trump added. “China plays a role, so I hope China approves the deal.”
Congress passed a law requiring Baytedan to sell its shares due to national security concerns. As written, the law requires a full sale of China's ownership of popular video sharing apps, but it suggests that Trump can partner with China in a joint venture that ensures Americans are protected.
When asked how long he could extend the windows and whether his team was approaching the deal, Trump said, “We'll see.”
“We have at least another month now, so there's no need for an extension,” Trump added. “But if you want an extension, it probably expands.”
Trump believes in the app that he vowed to “save Tiktok” ahead of the 2024 presidential election and contributed to his political success. The president has previously said he believes Chinese leader Xi Jinping will approve the sale.
Vice President JD Vance reportedly has made major efforts to mediate sales.
Trump has highlighted the possibility that the newly created US sovereign wealth fund could be involved in a deal to acquire Tiktok.
Other suitors include billionaire Frank McCourt and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O'Leary. He joined the bid earlier this week to buy Tiktok from Reddit's co-founder Alexis Ohanian and rebuild the algorithm in US soil.
After easily removing Tiktok from the app store and complying with the law, Google and Apple have allowed the download following a guarantee from Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi that they will not be fined.
US lawmakers and the Justice Department said Tiktok could be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party for mass data collection and used to manipulate public opinion through its algorithms.
The U.S. Supreme Court has shot down Tiktok's argument that the law violated the First Amendment, saying the federal government raised credible concerns about national security.
Last month, a national survey found that 77% of Americans were concerned about the continued Chinese ownership of Tiktok, as reported by the post.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chairing the Senate Intel Committee, said “I hope that Tiktok will follow the law to take a full break from Communist China,” spokesman He spoke to Punchbowl News last month.
