On Friday, President Donald Trump stated that he has U.S. buyers lined up for TikTok and could further extend the deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the app’s U.S. assets. This comes just days after the White House joined the short video platform.
Speaking to reporters, Trump dismissed bipartisan security concerns over TikTok, saying his administration would monitor for any issues. He also mentioned that he would speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping “at the right time.”
Under a 2024 law, ByteDance was required to either sell the app’s U.S. assets or stop operating by January 19 of this year. However, Trump chose not to enforce the deadline after taking office on January 20, recently extending it to September 17. Some lawmakers have criticized the delay, arguing that his administration is ignoring national security concerns related to Chinese control over TikTok.
During a visit to a White House gift shop, Trump told reporters, “I haven’t spoken to President Xi about it.” He added, “In the meantime, until the complexity of things work out, we just extend a little bit longer.” He also noted, without naming any specific individuals or companies, that “we have very substantial American buyers that want to buy it.”
When asked about concerns regarding privacy or national security, Trump said, “I’m really not. I think it’s highly overrated… I’m a fan of TikTok.” He also mentioned that his administration would watch for any problems that might arise.
