U.S. President Donald Trump said he anticipates a deal for TikTok to be finalized before an April 5 deadline. The popular short video app, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, faces a potential ban in the United States if it fails to secure a non-Chinese buyer by that date.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump expressed optimism about the sale. "We have a lot of potential buyers," he said. "There’s tremendous interest in TikTok. I’d like to see TikTok remain alive."
The looming ban stems from a 2024 law citing national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership and its access to data from 170 million American users. The law, backed by bipartisan support in Congress, gave ByteDance until April 5, 2025, to divest its U.S. operations or face a full ban.
The U.S. government has long scrutinized TikTok for its data practices and potential ties to the Chinese government. Lawmakers argue that Chinese ownership poses a threat to national security, while ByteDance has denied any misuse of user data.
As the deadline nears, speculation has grown around possible buyers, including major tech firms and investment groups interested in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. assets. However, any deal would require approval from both the U.S. government and Chinese regulators.
TikTok remains one of the most downloaded and widely used apps in the U.S., especially among younger audiences. The platform's future now hinges on whether a satisfactory sale can be negotiated in time to avoid a ban that could reshape the global social media landscape.
With just days left, all eyes are on ByteDance and U.S. officials to see if TikTok can continue operating in the American market under new ownership.