ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 30) mentioned a cope with TikTok’s Chinese language mother or father ByteDance to promote the brief video app utilized by 170 million Individuals can be struck earlier than a deadline on Apr 5.
Trump set the April 5 deadline in January for TikTok to discover a non-Chinese language purchaser or face a US ban on nationwide safety grounds resulting from have taken impact that month underneath a 2024 legislation.
“Now we have lots of potential consumers,” Trump instructed reporters on Air Drive One late on Sunday. “There’s great curiosity in Tiktok”, including, “I might prefer to see Tiktok stay alive”.
TikTok didn’t instantly remark.
Reuters reported on Friday personal fairness agency Blackstone is evaluating making a small minority funding in TikTok’s US operations, in keeping with two individuals conversant in the matter.
Blackstone is discussing becoming a member of ByteDance’s present non-Chinese language shareholders, led by Susquehanna Worldwide Group and Common Atlantic, in contributing contemporary capital to bid for TikTok’s US enterprise. The group has emerged as front-runners.
Washington says TikTok’s possession by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese language authorities and Beijing might use the app to conduct affect operations towards america and acquire knowledge on Individuals.
Trump beforehand mentioned he was keen to increase the April deadline if an settlement over the social media app was not reached.
Final week, he acknowledged the position China will play in getting any deal carried out, together with giving its approval, saying “perhaps I am going to give them a bit of discount in tariffs or one thing to get it carried out”.
Vice President JD Vance has mentioned he expects the final phrases of an settlement resolving the possession of the social media platform to be reached by Apr 5.
The way forward for the app utilized by almost half of all Individuals has been up within the air since a 2024 legislation, handed with overwhelming bipartisan help, required ByteDance to divest TikTok by Jan 19.
The White Home has been concerned to an unprecedented degree within the intently watched deal talks, successfully enjoying the position of funding financial institution.
