On January 19, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to extend the deadline for a potential ban on TikTok in the United States and proposed a plan for the U.S. to take partial ownership of the app. The announcement followed a day when TikTok went dark for American users, as the deadline passed for Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations. The move was in response to a law enacted to protect national security, which had called for ByteDance to sell its U.S. subsidiary to non-Chinese owners. However, ByteDance has resisted any attempts to sell.
Trump, who will officially take office on Monday, stated he would issue an executive order to delay the implementation of the ban. The law does allow a 90-day grace period if progress toward a sale is demonstrated, but ByteDance has so far refused to cooperate. In his statement on Truth Social, Trump expressed his desire for the U.S. to acquire a 50% stake in a joint venture, highlighting the app’s potential value, which he suggested could reach “hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe trillions.”
The proposed plan aims to ensure TikTok stays in American hands while mitigating national security concerns. Despite the growing popularity of TikTok—especially among younger users—its Chinese ownership has raised fears of data privacy and misinformation.
While TikTok has expressed relief that Trump is looking for a solution, it remains unclear how such a deal could unfold, particularly if ByteDance is unwilling to sell. The incoming administration’s stance on the matter will be critical in determining TikTok’s future in the U.S. While some see the app as a cultural phenomenon, others continue to view its Chinese ownership with suspicion, particularly in light of national security risks.