U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated his willingness to extend the looming June 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets, if negotiations remain incomplete by that date. Speaking during a taped interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” which aired Sunday, Trump said he would consider granting more time to finalize a deal. The interview was recorded at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
“I would… I’d like to see it done,” Trump said, expressing interest in preserving the app’s availability in the U.S. market. TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, played a key role in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, particularly in energizing younger voters. “TikTok is – it’s very interesting, but it will be protected,” he added.
Divestment Deadline Pushed Twice Already
This marks the third time Trump has signaled a possible delay to the enforcement of a congressionally mandated ban, originally slated to take effect on January 19. While the law required ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban, Trump, who began his second term on January 20, chose not to enforce the deadline. Instead, he granted two reprieves—first to early April, and then to June 19.
Although a potential agreement had been under negotiation that would restructure TikTok’s U.S. operations under a new, American-owned company, progress has stalled. The deal, which would make the U.S. entity majority-owned and operated by domestic investors, encountered resistance after China signaled it would not approve the spin-off. This opposition emerged in response to Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, some as high as 145%.
Geopolitical Tensions Stall Progress
Democratic lawmakers have questioned Trump’s legal authority to grant further extensions and argue that any divestment plan must satisfy strict legal criteria to meet national security concerns. Moreover, the Chinese government’s unwillingness to greenlight the proposed U.S.-based structure has added another layer of complexity.
According to one source familiar with ByteDance’s American investors, efforts to finalize a deal are still underway. However, resolution of the broader U.S.-China tariff dispute remains a prerequisite for meaningful progress. The source added that no agreement would likely be approved unless both Washington and Beijing find common ground on the trade front.
Tariffs and Trade as Bargaining Chips
During the interview, Trump insisted that the tariffs would remain in place as leverage. “I’m not dropping the tariffs to get them to the table,” he said, but added that he might reduce them later as part of a more comprehensive trade agreement. “At some point, I’m going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them. And they want to do business very much,” he explained.
Trump also claimed China was eager to reach a resolution, citing the economic strain inflicted by the steep tariffs. His remarks suggested he sees the TikTok issue as intertwined with broader economic negotiations, positioning the divestment as part of a wider trade strategy rather than an isolated national security concern.
Political and Legal Challenges Ahead
Despite Trump’s public statements, opposition remains. Democratic senators argue that the president lacks unilateral authority to delay enforcement of the law passed by Congress. They also question whether the proposed deal would meet legal standards designed to ensure that Americans’ data remains beyond the reach of foreign adversaries.
In the meantime, TikTok continues to operate in the U.S. under a cloud of uncertainty. While ByteDance’s U.S. investors remain in active talks, the final outcome will likely depend on developments in the trade standoff between the U.S. and China. With just weeks to go before the June 19 deadline, both sides are running out of time to reach an agreement that satisfies national security requirements and international trade dynamics.
