Trump may push back TikTok’s June 19 divestment deadline, citing ongoing deal talks and US-China tensions.
A Familiar Pause in the TikTok Saga
President Donald Trump has indicated he is open to extending the June 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets if a deal isn’t finalized in time. The short video app, with 170 million American users, faces a looming ban unless its Chinese parent company completes a sale to US investors.
Why the Deadline Keeps Moving
This is not the first reprieve for TikTok. Originally, the ban was set for January, but Trump has already granted two extensions-first to April, and then to June-citing ongoing negotiations. The proposed deal would see TikTok’s US operations spun off into a new, American-owned company. However, progress stalled after China objected, especially following Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump’s Changing Tone on TikTok
Trump, who once championed a TikTok ban over national security worries, now expresses a “warm spot” for the app, crediting it with helping him engage young voters during the 2024 election. “TikTok is very interesting, but it will be protected,” he told NBC’s Meet the Press, signaling his preference for a solution that keeps the app available to Americans.
Legal and Political Roadblocks
Democratic senators argue Trump lacks the legal authority to keep extending deadlines, and question whether the current deal structure would fully sever TikTok from Chinese control. Meanwhile, ByteDance’s US investors remain in talks, but much depends on resolving the ongoing tariff dispute between Washington and Beijing.
Tariffs and Negotiations: The Bigger Picture
Trump insists he won’t drop the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports just to secure a TikTok deal, but hints he could lower them as part of a broader agreement. “At some point, I’m going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them. And they want to do business very much,” he said in the NBC interview.
What’s Next for TikTok in America?
As the June 19 deadline approaches, the fate of TikTok remains uncertain. Trump’s willingness to extend the timeline again keeps the door open for a last-minute deal-but also prolongs the uncertainty for users, investors, and the tech industry as a whole.
- Will TikTok’s American future hinge on another Trump extension?
- Can a deal be reached before US-China tensions derail negotiations?
- With millions of users in limbo, what’s next for TikTok in the US?
