Why Donald Trump may give another deadline to TikTok, and there’s a ‘China angle�?to it

TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 7, 2025, 15:41 IST

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As the April 5 deadline approaches, President Trump signaled a willingness to extend the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok, emphasizing China's role in the deal. This decision follows a January executive order amidst ongoing trade tensions with China and national security concerns regarding the app.

Why Donald Trump may give another deadline to TikTok, and there’s a ‘China angle�?to it

FILE - A visitor passes the TikTok exhibition stands at the Gamescom computer gaming fair in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

US President Donald Trump indicated Thursday he would "probably" extend the April 5 deadline for TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban in the United States. The statement comes as the clock ticks down on the 75-day extension Trump granted via executive order after taking office in January, which had temporarily saved the app after it briefly went dark on January 19 when a congressionally-mandated deadline expired.
"If I needed an extension, I'd probably get it extended," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We have a lot of interest in TikTok. And China is going to play a role, so hopefully China will approve of the deal, but they are going to play a role," he added, without specifying the interested buyers.

Trump had ordered TikTok to find an American buyer in 75 days in January

The current deadline stems from Trump's January executive order that gave ByteDance, TikTok's China-based parent company, 75 days to find an American buyer or face a ban in the United States. This order followed a bipartisan law passed last year requiring the sale due to national security concerns.

"Right now we have at least another month, so we don't need an extension," Trump said, while still keeping the door open for more time if necessary.
Trump's willingness to extend the deadline marks a shift from his previous administration's attempt to ban the app outright. The president has recently suggested the U.S. should receive a 50% stake in TikTok through a "joint venture," potentially via a sovereign wealth fund.
The potential extension comes amid escalating trade tensions with China. Trump recently imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to implement retaliatory measures including new export controls on 15 U.S. firms.
ByteDance has historically shown reluctance to sell TikTok despite concerns about its ties to the Chinese government. The app briefly went offline on January 19—the original congressionally mandated deadline—before Trump's executive order provided additional time.
Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Walz were appointed last month to oversee the potential sale process.

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