Jakarta, INTI – President of the United States Donald Trump has signed an executive order to extend the deadline for TikTok’s operations in the United States by an additional 75 days, allowing its parent company ByteDance more time to complete a potential acquisition deal.
The announcement was made through Trump’s own social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, April 6, 2025—just one day before TikTok was set to be officially banned in the United States.
“My administration has worked very hard to save TikTok, and we’ve made tremendous progress. The deal still requires some final approvals, which is why I signed an Executive Order to keep TikTok operating for an additional 75 days,” Trump stated.
Deadline Extended, TikTok Temporarily Reinstated
TikTok was previously banned on Friday, January 18, 2025, following the enforcement of a law signed by former President Joe Biden in 2024. The law gave ByteDance a deadline of 270 days to sell its United States operations to a non-Chinese buyer or face removal from app stores and hosting platforms in the country.
After taking office on Monday, January 20, 2025, Trump immediately issued an executive order to temporarily lift the ban. The app, which had been inaccessible for approximately 12 hours, was made available to U.S. users again.
Trade Tensions Delay Acquisition Agreement
President Trump revealed that a deal to acquire TikTok was nearly finalized but was disrupted due to increasing trade tensions between the United States and China. The United States imposed reciprocal tariffs totaling 54 percent on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with similar tariffs effective Wednesday, April 10, 2025.
“We were close to a deal, especially for TikTok. Then China altered the agreement because of the tariffs. If I gave them a small tariff cut, they would approve the deal in 15 minutes,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Multiple U.S. Investors Interested, But ByteDance Stays Cautious
Several major U.S. investors, including Oracle, Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz, Amazon, Walmart, and others, have shown interest in acquiring TikTok’s United States operations. However, ByteDance has not yet publicly expressed willingness to sell or reduce its ownership in TikTok. Furthermore, any potential deal must be approved by the Chinese government.
China Urges Fair Negotiations, Adds Pressure of Its Own
The Chinese government has called for “equal-footed consultations” to ease tensions. In response to the latest U.S. tariffs, China placed several American companies on a list of “unreliable entities” and announced new export controls on strategic rare earth materials, including samarium, gadolinium, and terbium.
“It is time for the United States to stop its wrongful actions and resolve differences with its trading partners through respectful and mutually beneficial negotiations,” stated the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China in a press release on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Chinese business groups also warned that U.S. tariffs could worsen inflation, increase consumer costs, and raise the risk of a domestic recession in the United States.
Conclusion: TikTok’s Future Hinges on Diplomacy and Deal-Making
The 75-day extension granted by President Trump offers a window of opportunity for a resolution to be reached regarding TikTok’s operations in the United States. However, the situation remains complex, as it is shaped not only by business negotiations but also by escalating geopolitical tensions. As both nations navigate their strategic and economic interests, the fate of TikTok lies at the intersection of technology, trade, and diplomacy.
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