Donald Trump has provided an update on the status of TikTok’s operations in the United States, following China’s recent actions in response to the latest US tariffs.
The former president released a statement addressing the possibility of a TikTok ban in the US, following an extension period granted to explore the sale of the company.
On Friday, Trump conveyed via his social media platform that while significant strides have been made, further efforts are required in the upcoming weeks.
Trump defended the global tariffs introduced earlier in the week and commented on China’s reaction, emphasizing that the US’s actions were crucial for maintaining fair trade relations between the two countries.
In his statement, he declared: “My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress. The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days. We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!). This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security! We do not want TikTok to “go dark.” We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The question remains whether the United States will be able to address the TikTok situation within the next two and a half months.
As of Thursday (April 3), Trump indicated that a buyer for the app was ‘very close’ to being secured, though no details on potential bidders were provided.
During a conversation on Air Force One, Trump mentioned that ‘multiple investors’ were nearing an agreement, with several potential buyers reportedly in consideration.
Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, expressed that it was ‘highly unlikely’ TikTok would face another shutdown, as occurred briefly in January, suggesting that ‘all signs point to a deal or another extension’ if a buyer is not confirmed within the 75-day timeframe.
The controversy began when the US government enacted legislation requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the platform due to concerns about national security.
The apprehensions included the possibility that Beijing could exploit the app to gather data on American citizens or use it to sway American individuals. China has refuted these claims.