In a surprise move, President Donald Trump has issued a second 75-day extension for TikTok, postponing a ban on the popular app and giving negotiators more time to finalize a U.S.-based ownership deal. The decision was announced Friday via Trump’s Truth Social account, providing the embattled video-sharing platform with a temporary reprieve.
The new deadline aims to buy time for a deal that would meet U.S. national security standards and regulatory approval.
“We’ve made solid progress on securing TikTok’s future in the U.S.,” Trump wrote. “But we need a bit more time to lock in the final terms. That’s why I’ve signed an order to extend TikTok’s operating window by another 75 days.”
Deadline Moves Again
This marks the second delay since a law passed under the Biden administration required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations. The initial deadline was set for January 19. On his first day back in office, Trump issued a new executive order that reset the countdown—effectively giving ByteDance more time to act.
TikTok was even briefly removed from app stores in the lead-up to the original ban, but reappeared after news of the extension broke.
Momentum Builds for U.S. Takeover
Sources close to the negotiations say a group of prominent American investors has submitted a leading bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations. The front-running consortium reportedly includes Oracle, Blackstone, and Andreessen Horowitz, while other major names like Amazon, Walmart, AppLovin, and Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty are also said to be in the mix.
While Washington is eager to push a deal through, China’s approval remains uncertain. ByteDance has resisted ceding control, complicating talks.
Broader Trade Tensions Loom
The TikTok negotiations come amid escalating trade friction between the U.S. and China. Just days ago, Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports—a move Beijing quickly matched with countermeasures of its own.
In his announcement, Trump suggested that tariffs could serve as leverage in the TikTok standoff: “Our tariffs are working as a critical tool for fair trade—and national security,” he wrote. “We hope China will continue to engage with us in good faith as we work toward a TikTok resolution.”
The Clock Resets Again
With another 75 days on the clock, attention now turns to ByteDance and its potential U.S. suitors. The outcome could determine whether TikTok continues to thrive on American phones—or becomes a casualty of global power politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment