Washington: US President Donald Trump has granted TikTok a second 75-day extension to comply with a US law requiring its sale or shutdown.
The move offers the popular video-sharing app more time to secure an American buyer amid tense trade relations with China. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that, “We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark’. We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal.”
The platform, which boasts more than 170 million users in the US, remains owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance.
The initial extension, granted shortly after Trump assumed office in January, was set to expire Saturday. Under a bipartisan law passed by Congress, ByteDance was given six months to divest its US operations or face a ban.
The extension now gives negotiators more time to salvage a deal that appeared close- until new global tariffs shifted the landscape. ByteDance confirmed ongoing talks with the Trump administration but acknowledged that “an agreement has not been executed,” citing unresolved issues and the need for approval under Chinese law.
Despite the setback, interest in acquiring TikTok remains high. Reports suggest that Amazon submitted a last-minute offer to the White House, although the company declined to comment. Other notable contenders include:
- Billionaire Frank McCourt and Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, with backing from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian
- Microsoft, Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz, and Perplexity AI
Trump confirmed that four groups are actively in discussions, though names were not disclosed. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly leading efforts to secure a suitable buyer for the platform.
The push to force a sale stems from long-standing US concerns about national security, with previous administrations warning TikTok could be used by Beijing for espionage and political manipulation.
