President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations by 75 days, now set to mid-June. This extension aims to provide additional time to finalize the sale of TikTok’s American assets to a non-Chinese entity, addressing national security concerns over data privacy and potential Chinese government influence.
The decision comes after previous delays and amidst complex negotiations involving potential buyers such as Oracle, Amazon, and other investors. However, recent U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports have complicated these discussions, with ByteDance pausing the deal pending further trade negotiations.
Critics argue that the extension overrides existing legislation mandating TikTok’s divestiture or ban, potentially exposing companies like Apple and Google to substantial fines. Despite these concerns, President Trump emphasizes the importance of preventing TikTok’s shutdown in the U.S. and continues to work towards a resolution that satisfies national security requirements while maintaining the app’s availability.
