**The Trump administration extends TikTok's deadline, seeking to keep the popular app operational in the US amid ongoing negotiations for a potential sale.**
**Trump Issues New 75-Day Extension for TikTok Compliance in the US**
**Trump Issues New 75-Day Extension for TikTok Compliance in the US**
**President Trump aims to broker a deal for the popular app as the deadline approaches**
In a significant move, U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a new 75-day extension for TikTok to meet regulatory requirements that could save the application from a ban in the country. Announced on Truth Social, Trump expressed his desire for TikTok to remain active, stating, "We do not want TikTok to 'go dark'," while indicating ongoing discussions with both TikTok and China in hopes of facilitating a deal.
This extension follows the initial one he provided after taking office in January, which was set to lapse soon. TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, boasts a robust user base of over 170 million in the U.S., making its potential prohibition a contentious issue among lawmakers and users alike, often centered on the balance between national security and free speech rights. Congress had mandated ByteDance to divest its holdings in TikTok within a six-month timeframe, setting a critical urgency to the negotiations.
ByteDance has confirmed ongoing conversations with the Trump administration, yet they emphasize that a final agreement has yet to be formalized due to several unresolved key issues, complicating the matter with the requirement for Chinese legal approvals. Concerns raised by the previous Biden administration revolved around the use of TikTok as a potential surveillance tool for China.
Recent developments indicate that a deal was on the verge of completion earlier this week, only to destabilize following Trump’s announcement of new global tariffs that directly affected China. As negotiations appeared to be moving forward, they quickly unraveled when Chinese officials made it clear that no transactions would proceed until tariff discussions were adequately addressed.
This scenario has introduced a complex interplay of diplomacy and commerce, with prospective buyers emerging, including Amazon, who reportedly submitted a last-minute offer, as well as other contenders like billionaire Frank McCourt and venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Microsoft. The administration is presently in discussions with several interested parties while Vice-President JD Vance is leading the charge to secure a buyer.
Long-term implications of these negotiations go beyond TikTok itself, as Trump proposed the idea of linking tariff relief for China to the approval of a TikTok sale, showcasing the intricate relationships between trade policies and technology regulation.
Trump's emphasis on the strategic importance of the tariffs aligned with national security continues to underscore the administration's approach in navigating this multifaceted situation. "We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China," he noted, highlighting the intention to negotiate terms that benefit both parties involved.
This extension follows the initial one he provided after taking office in January, which was set to lapse soon. TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, boasts a robust user base of over 170 million in the U.S., making its potential prohibition a contentious issue among lawmakers and users alike, often centered on the balance between national security and free speech rights. Congress had mandated ByteDance to divest its holdings in TikTok within a six-month timeframe, setting a critical urgency to the negotiations.
ByteDance has confirmed ongoing conversations with the Trump administration, yet they emphasize that a final agreement has yet to be formalized due to several unresolved key issues, complicating the matter with the requirement for Chinese legal approvals. Concerns raised by the previous Biden administration revolved around the use of TikTok as a potential surveillance tool for China.
Recent developments indicate that a deal was on the verge of completion earlier this week, only to destabilize following Trump’s announcement of new global tariffs that directly affected China. As negotiations appeared to be moving forward, they quickly unraveled when Chinese officials made it clear that no transactions would proceed until tariff discussions were adequately addressed.
This scenario has introduced a complex interplay of diplomacy and commerce, with prospective buyers emerging, including Amazon, who reportedly submitted a last-minute offer, as well as other contenders like billionaire Frank McCourt and venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Microsoft. The administration is presently in discussions with several interested parties while Vice-President JD Vance is leading the charge to secure a buyer.
Long-term implications of these negotiations go beyond TikTok itself, as Trump proposed the idea of linking tariff relief for China to the approval of a TikTok sale, showcasing the intricate relationships between trade policies and technology regulation.
Trump's emphasis on the strategic importance of the tariffs aligned with national security continues to underscore the administration's approach in navigating this multifaceted situation. "We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China," he noted, highlighting the intention to negotiate terms that benefit both parties involved.
