2025-06-30T05:03:06Z

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On April 4, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a further postponement of enforcement of legislation aimed at banning TikTok, a widely used social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. The law stipulates that unless ByteDance divests its ownership, TikTok will face a ban due to security concerns regarding data privacy and potential content manipulation by the Chinese government.

During an interview with Fox News, aired on Sunday, Trump revealed that he has a group of 'very wealthy people' ready to purchase TikTok, though he withheld their identities, promising to disclose them in approximately two weeks. In a show of optimism, Trump expressed belief that the Chinese government, led by President Xi Jinping, would likely approve any sale of the platform, suggesting a cooperative relationship between the two nations in this business matter.

The remarks came as Trump discussed the ongoing economic strategy surrounding international trade, specifically referencing the possibility of another pause on his 'reciprocal' tariffs. These tariffs have been a contentious aspect of U.S.-China relations, impacting various industries and consumer prices.

Concerns regarding TikTok have grown since the passage of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) in 2024. This legislation was enacted following worries that the app could allow the Chinese government access to sensitive data from American users and possibly exploit the platform for propaganda purposes. The law requires ByteDance to divest its ownership to ensure TikTok's operations in the U.S. can continue.

Earlier this month, Trump once again extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations, marking this as the third such extension since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the TikTok law just before Trump’s second inauguration in January. The new deadline is set for September 17, a timeline that indicates the urgency surrounding the matter.

The original timeline for enforcement of PAFACA was set for January 19, at which point app store operators and internet service providers would face penalties for continuing to support TikTok. After the initial deadline, TikTok briefly went offline in the U.S. but was restored after Trump assured the company of an extension, demonstrating the platform’s critical role in reaching younger demographics during the last election cycle.

Trump has previously acknowledged TikTok's importance in his political strategy, stating that it significantly boosted his appeal among younger voters. Potential buyers interested in acquiring TikTok include individuals close to Trump, such as Larry Ellison from Oracle, as well as companies like AppLovin and Perplexity AI. These prospective deals highlight the ongoing intersection of technology, politics, and international relations.