WASHINGTON – Former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the long-anticipated sale of TikTok’s US operations is progressing, with the final decision now dependent on approval from the Chinese government. The platform’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, meaning any deal must receive Beijing’s clearance. Trump mentioned that he expects China to approve the transaction and hinted that the identities of the potential American buyers will be disclosed within the next two weeks.
Trump explained that a group of wealthy investors is prepared to acquire TikTok’s US assets. However, the process has been slowed by geopolitical challenges and legal requirements. Under a 2024 law passed in the US, ByteDance must either sell TikTok’s American operations or shut them down by January 19, 2025, if a sale is not completed. To give room for negotiations, Trump extended the sale deadline to September 17.
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The push for TikTok’s sale comes amid ongoing concerns in Washington over data privacy and national security, given ByteDance’s Chinese origins. Trump’s administration has previously claimed that the app poses potential risks due to its access to American user data. Despite this, Trump has expressed hope that the sale will proceed smoothly with Beijing’s cooperation, allowing TikTok to continue operations under new US ownership.
Trump also acknowledged TikTok’s growing influence among young voters and hinted that his engagement with the platform may be helping boost his popularity in that demographic. This could be one reason behind his keen interest in seeing the platform remain operational in the United States. As of now, three deadline extensions have been granted, and the final verdict now hinges on China’s approval.
