TikTok Faces Uncertain Future as April 5 Ban Deadline Approaches
President Trump confirms discussions with four potential buyers for the platform, with ByteDance required to divest or face a U.S. ban.
- President Trump has extended the TikTok ban deadline to April 5, requiring ByteDance to sell the platform to approved buyers or face a nationwide ban in the U.S.
- The administration is in talks with four unnamed groups interested in purchasing TikTok, but no deal has been finalized yet.
- Potential buyers include a consortium led by Frank McCourt and Alexis Ohanian, another involving MrBeast and Roblox CEO David Baszucki, and companies like Microsoft and Rumble.
- If ByteDance does not sell TikTok by the deadline, the app will become illegal for U.S. internet service providers and app stores to host, though existing users will not face penalties.
- Trump has suggested the U.S. government could take a 50% stake in TikTok, but details on how this would work remain unclear, and ByteDance has not confirmed its willingness to sell.