Over the weekend, President Trump signed a second extension to the TikTok US sale mandate giving an additional 75 days for a resolution to be found. He added that he doesn’t want TikTok to go dark.
My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress. The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days. We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!). This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security! We do not want TikTok to “go dark.” We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
– Donald J. Trump, via Truth Social
This comes after a deal on the TikTok US sale with the Chinese Government fell apart due to the imposition of tariffs and it’s reported that Bytedance informed the US that a deal would not be approved unless negotiations on tariffs were put in place.
ByteDance has been in discussion with the U.S. Government regarding a potential solution for TikTok U.S. An agreement has not been executed. There are key matters to be resolved. Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law.
– Spokesperson, Global Corporate Communications, ByteDance
It’s not really surprising that the US don’t want to lose TikTok, especially after the latest Oxford Economics report that revealed TikTok has become an indispensable platform for businesses all across the country, with 7.5 million businesses on the platform employing more than 28 million workers. Almost three-quarters (74%) of businesses reported that TikTok allowed them to scale their operations.
TikTok’s impact on the US economy continues to expand, with millions of small and mid-sized businesses using the platform to reach new customers, increase engagement, and create jobs. The latest Oxford Economics report underscores this growing influence, estimating that 28 million people are employed by businesses that leverage TikTok’s features. The platform isn’t just a tool for brand awareness—it’s a catalyst for real economic opportunity, fueling job growth and innovation across the country.
– Blake Chandlee, President of Global Business Solutions, TikTok
