U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday a 75-day extension for Chinese technology company ByteDance to address operational issues related to its popular short video app, TikTok. This marks a significant shift as the administration seeks a collaborative solution with China.
“My administration has been working very hard on a deal to save TikTok, and we have made tremendous progress,” Trump posted on his social media platform. “The deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.”
Trump added, “We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the deal.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations to restructure TikTok’s U.S. operations. White House officials believe they are nearing an agreement to spin off the app into a new U.S.-based company, majority-owned by American investors, while allowing China’s ByteDance to retain a minority stake.
ByteDance responded on Saturday, stating that the company is “still in negotiations” with the U.S. government and emphasizing that no agreement has been reached due to unresolved key issues. The company reiterated that any potential deal must comply with Chinese legal review procedures.
When asked about the status of the deal, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said in a statement: “China has stated its position on TikTok on multiple occasions. China has always respected and protected the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and opposes practices that violate the basic principles of the market economy.”
The TikTok Ban
The U.S. Congress has mandated that TikTok, used by millions of Americans, must divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban, citing national security concerns. The app has been under scrutiny over allegations that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government, claims both TikTok and ByteDance have denied.
Negotiations for TikTok’s divestiture are complex, involving multiple stakeholders, including U.S.-based companies like Oracle and potential investors such as Blackstone. The proposed deal aims to transfer majority ownership to American entities while allowing ByteDance to retain a minority stake.
In response to security concerns, TikTok has implemented measures to enhance transparency and data security. These include establishing transparency and accountability centers, forming a content advisory council, creating a dedicated U.S. data security entity (USDS) to manage American user data, and partnering with Oracle as a “trusted technology provider” to oversee U.S. operations and conduct security audits.
More Americans Oppose TikTok Ban
Recent data indicates a significant decline in American support for a TikTok ban. A Pew Research Center survey reveals that only 34 percent of U.S. adults now favor such a ban, down from 50 percent earlier in the year.
This shift is particularly relevant to local businesses and content creators who rely on TikTok for marketing and revenue. For instance, Terrell Wade—known as @TheWadeEmpire to his 1.5 million TikTok followers—has been expanding his presence on other platforms due to the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future. He expressed frustration over the ongoing ambiguity, noting that each new deadline “starts to feel less like a real threat and more like background noise.”
The potential ban poses significant challenges for local enterprises and creators, disrupting their ability to engage with audiences and affecting their livelihoods.
