Trump Confirms TikTok Sale Deal Will Be Reached Before April 5 Deadline
President Donald Trump has announced that a deal for the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, will be finalized before the April 5 deadline. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, March 30, Trump stated, “We have a lot of potential buyers. There’s tremendous interest in TikTok,” and added, “I’d like to see TikTok remain alive.”
The deadline was initially set in January under a 2024 law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok operations or face a national security ban. The U.S. government has raised concerns about ByteDance’s ownership, fearing the Chinese government could use TikTok to influence American users and collect data on them.
According to Reuters, private equity firm Blackstone is exploring a minority investment in TikTok’s U.S. operations. Sources indicate that Blackstone is in talks with ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese investors, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, to pool resources in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. business. This group is now viewed as the front-runner in the negotiations.
Last week, Trump acknowledged that China must approve any potential sale and suggested he may consider reducing tariffs to facilitate the transaction. Vice President JD Vance has also expressed confidence that the terms of an agreement will be settled before the April 5 deadline.
TikTok, which has become a dominant social media platform with nearly half of all Americans using it, has faced an uncertain future since the passage of the 2024 law. While Trump had previously indicated a willingness to extend the deadline, his latest comments suggest that a resolution is now imminent.
Comments
Post a Comment