Trump hints at extending the June 19 deadline for TikTok’s U.S. sale amid ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations and tariff issues. The app’s fate remains uncertain.
 |
| U.S. President Donald Trump signals flexibility on TikTok’s U.S. sale, potentially extending the June 19 deadline, amid unresolved U.S.-China tariff and trade issues. Image: CH |
PALM BEACH, Florida, USA — May 5, 2025:
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he may consider extending the June 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations, citing unresolved U.S.-China trade tensions and ongoing negotiations. In an interview aired on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Trump expressed flexibility regarding the deadline, saying, “I’d like to see it done,” but suggesting that an extension might be possible if a deal is not reached by then.
Trump, who has used TikTok to connect with younger voters ahead of the 2024 election, emphasized the platform’s significance in his outreach strategy. “TikTok is... very interesting, but it will be protected,” he added, acknowledging the app’s importance to American users and its role in his electoral strategy.
Originally set for January 19, the law mandated that TikTok cease its U.S. operations unless ByteDance reached an agreement to sell its assets. However, Trump, who began his second term in January, opted not to enforce the law, extending the deadline to early April, then again to June 19. This marks the latest chapter in an ongoing saga involving the app’s future in the U.S.
The proposed deal involved a spin-off of TikTok into a U.S.-based entity, majority-owned by American investors. However, talks hit a roadblock after China raised objections to the deal’s structure, particularly following Trump’s imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. Despite these challenges, Trump remains optimistic about a resolution, noting that China is eager to reach an agreement, though he is unwilling to back down on the tariffs.
In response to these developments, Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns, arguing that Trump lacks the legal authority to unilaterally extend the deadline, and that any potential deal must meet legal and national security requirements. Meanwhile, sources close to ByteDance’s U.S. investors say that work on the deal continues, though it is contingent on the resolution of broader trade disputes between the U.S. and China.
Trump, in his interview, explained, “At some point, I’m going to lower [the tariffs] because otherwise you could never do business with them. And they want to do business very much.”