Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again weighed in on the fate of TikTok, calling the popular video-sharing app “very interesting” and indicating a willingness to extend the upcoming June 19th deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest its U.S. assets, should a deal not be reached in time.
The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of TikTok’s ownership and data practices, with lawmakers and regulators raising national security concerns over the app’s ties to China. ByteDance, which owns TikTok, has been under pressure for years to sell its U.S. operations to an American company or face a potential ban.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “TikTok is a very interesting platform — a lot of young people use it, and we want to make sure it stays available, but also safe. We’re going to look into extending the deadline if a strong deal isn’t finalized by June 19.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has taken a firm stance on TikTok. During his presidency, he issued executive orders to force a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations, citing concerns over Chinese government access to American user data. However, legal challenges and changes in administration stalled those efforts.
Trump’s recent comments suggest a softer, more measured approach, signaling that his primary concern lies in ensuring the app remains accessible to American users while addressing national security issues through negotiations and oversight.
Talks are reportedly ongoing between ByteDance and several U.S.-based firms interested in acquiring or partnering with TikTok to create a separate American entity. However, details remain unclear, and no official agreement has been announced.
Analysts believe Trump’s remarks may influence ongoing negotiations and reflect a broader political shift towards balancing security concerns with public demand for the platform.
As the June 19 deadline approaches, all eyes will be on both ByteDance and U.S. authorities to see whether a deal is struck or if the deadline will indeed be pushed back, as Trump suggested.
