Former President Donald Trump has reignited discussions around TikTok’s future in the U.S., saying a proposed deal to spin off the app’s American assets is “very much on the table,” despite growing political opposition and legal uncertainty.
Trump told reporters Wednesday that the deal involves “very good people” and “very rich companies” ready to take over TikTok’s U.S. operations but emphasized that progress hinges on the broader situation with China. The former president recently extended the divestiture deadline to June 19, pushing back enforcement of a potential ban.
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Under the deal, TikTok’s U.S. arm would be restructured into a new American-based entity, majority-owned and operated by U.S. investors. The aim is to limit Chinese ownership through ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company. However, the proposal has met strong resistance from lawmakers.
Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton and other Democratic senators argue the plan doesn’t meet legal requirements and that Congress won’t shield investors from potential legal fallout if the deal is struck without cutting all ties to China. Meanwhile, efforts to legislatively extend the deadline were blocked this week.
Despite the hurdles, discussions among ByteDance’s U.S. investors continue as the June 19 deadline approaches, though finalization may depend on a resolution of the ongoing U.S.-China tariff standoff.
