Trump Signals Possible Extension on TikTok Divestiture Deadline
US President Donald Trump has suggested he may extend the 19 June deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets. This decision could delay a congressionally mandated ban on the short video app, which is currently used by 170 million Americans.
Trump: TikTok Has a Role in His Political Success
In an interview recorded on Friday at his Mar-a-Lago estate and aired on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker,” Trump indicated his openness to allowing more time for a deal to be reached. “I would… I’d like to see it done,” he said, referring to the potential agreement.
Trump acknowledged TikTok’s influence on younger voters, noting that the app played a role in his re-election. “TikTok is – it’s very interesting, but it will be protected,” he added, showing a more favourable stance compared to past concerns over the platform.
Legal and Political Challenges Continue
This is not the first delay. Trump has already twice pushed back the deadline from the original date in January. The most recent extension moved it to 19 June. However, some Democratic senators argue that Trump lacks the legal authority to keep extending the deadline. They also question whether the proposed divestiture deal would meet US legal standards.
The deal, which would spin off TikTok’s US operations into a new, American-owned company, was paused after China signalled opposition. This followed Trump’s announcement of new tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods.
Deal Progress Hinges on Tariff Dispute
A source close to ByteDance’s US investors confirmed that discussions on the deal are ongoing. However, they acknowledged that progress depends heavily on resolving the current trade tensions between the US and China.
Trump remains firm on his tariff policy, saying it has hurt China’s economy. While he does not plan to lift tariffs just to encourage talks, he noted they could eventually be reduced under a broader agreement. “At some point, I’m going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them,” Trump said. “And they want to do business very much.”
The law, passed last year, required ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations by 19 January 2025. Trump, who began his second term on 20 January, chose not to enforce the deadline and has since extended it twice.
with inputs from Reuters
