ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has until June 19 to finalize a deal to sell the popular short-video app or face shutting it down. This looming deadline threatens to cut off access for the app’s 170 million U.S. users.
Trump’s Role in Extending the TikTok Sale Deadline
President Donald Trump previously indicated willingness to extend the deadline for a third time. TikTok briefly went offline in January, but Trump pushed back the original deadline to April amid ongoing sale negotiations. He later signed a second executive order to extend the deadline again, which expires this Thursday.
Trump still has the option to delay the deadline further, but it remains unclear how long he can continue to postpone the sale before ByteDance must act.
Trump’s Shifting Stance on TikTok
During his first term, Trump sought to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns. However, his position shifted during the 2024 election, when he praised TikTok as a counterbalance to the dominance of Meta’s social media platforms.
Trump has had a contentious relationship with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who suspended Trump from Facebook following the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump later reached a $25 million settlement with Meta over that suspension.
Notably, Trump also credited TikTok with helping attract young voters to his re-election campaign. He invited TikTok CEO Zhou Shouzi to his inauguration, along with tech leaders from Apple, Google, and Meta.
Legal and Legislative Background
U.S. Congress passed legislation, signed by President Joe Biden, aimed at banning TikTok in 2024 unless ByteDance divested its social networking business. If ByteDance failed to comply, U.S. cloud service providers and app stores would be required to remove TikTok or face fines.
However, during the deadline extensions, the Trump administration assured tech companies they would not be fined.
TikTok challenged the ban in court, bringing the case to the Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of the government’s national security concerns.
National Security Concerns Without Public Evidence
U.S. officials argue the Chinese government could use TikTok for propaganda or gather sensitive data on American users for potential blackmail. Yet, no public evidence has been presented to support these claims.
Potential Buyers Show Interest Amid Trade Tensions
Several buyers have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Notable parties include a group led by billionaire Frank McCourt Jr., Microsoft, internet celebrity Mr. Beast, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
The sale deadline coincides with ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations. After Trump increased tariffs on Chinese goods in April, China withdrew from a TikTok sale deal. Trump has said any TikTok agreement would likely come after a broader trade deal with China is reached.
