US President Donald Trump said that a deal to sell TikTok to its Chinese parent company ByteDance will be concluded by April 5, 2025. Trump set this deadline in January, demanding that TikTok find a buyer outside of China or face a ban in the US due to threats to national security. Reuters writes.
Trump said there was "tremendous interest" in TikTok from potential buyers. According to Reuters, investment firm Blackstone is considering buying a minority stake in TikTok's U.S. business. It is in talks to join a group of investors, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, that are seeking to buy TikTok's U.S. assets.
Washington believes that through ByteDance, the app is controlled by the Chinese government, which can use the platform to collect data on Americans and conduct information operations against the United States.
Trump has previously said he is willing to extend the deadline if a deal is not reached in time. Last week, he acknowledged that China will play a key role in its approval, saying it could offer some concessions on trade tariffs.
Vice President J.D. Vance expects the main terms of the deal to be agreed upon by April 5. The White House is actively intervening in the negotiations, effectively acting as an investment bank.