On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. President, the TikTok social network stopped working in the country for several hours. However, the new head of state postponed the ban on its operations until April 5, allowing time to find buyers. Now, he has indicated that he is open to extending this deadline if necessary.
Search for Buyers and Possible Deadline Extension
By April 5, the Chinese company ByteDance must find a buyer for its U.S. TikTok assets that meets the American government’s requirements for political reliability and information security. Speaking this week, Donald Trump noted that many potential investors are interested in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations. With almost a month remaining until the deadline, he sees no immediate need to extend the delay. However, he did not rule out the possibility, stating, “If it becomes necessary to extend the deadline, then I will probably do it.”
Trump also acknowledged that China would play a role in approving any deal, and there is currently strong interest from potential buyers. Initially, he had the right to delay the TikTok ban for 90 days but ultimately postponed it by 75 days. He has previously suggested a deal structure that would allow the U.S. government to control half of TikTok’s American assets, reminds NIX Solutions.
Despite Trump’s authority to delay the ban, his ability to do so is not unlimited under U.S. law. The situation remains fluid, and further developments may impact the final decision. We’ll keep you updated on any changes regarding TikTok’s status in the U.S.