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.