President Donald Trump signaled on Sunday that he is willing to extend the June 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations, as efforts to finalize a deal remain stalled amid rising tensions with China.
“I would … I’d like to see it done,” Trump said in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, recorded at Mar-a-Lago. He also admitted to having a “sweet spot” for the short-form video app, citing its influence in winning over young voters during the 2024 election. “TikTok is very interesting, but it will be protected,” he added.
TikTok, used by over 170 million Americans, was ordered by law to cease U.S. operations unless divested by January 19, 2025. Trump, now in his second term, has extended the deadline twice — most recently to June 19.
A U.S.-based spin-off was under negotiation, but discussions were paused after Beijing pushed back in response to Trump’s steep 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Trump maintained that China was eager to strike a deal but said he would not ease tariffs just to bring them to the table.
Democratic lawmakers argue the president may lack the legal authority to delay enforcement of the ban again, adding that any proposed deal would face intense legal scrutiny.
With the deadline approaching and no resolution in sight, ByteDance’s U.S. investors reportedly continue preparations, pending progress on U.S.-China trade negotiations.
