TikTok users might experience a sense of déjà vu this week as the future of the popular short-video app is once again at stake. Its potential ban in the United States could become a reality in just a few days.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has until April 5 to sell the app’s U.S. operations, following an extension granted by President Donald Trump in January. If the sale does not go through, the app could face a ban in the country. Whatever happens this Saturday will have a significant impact on the 170 million Americans who use TikTok for news, entertainment, community building, and, in many cases, earning a living.
While there is uncertainty about the status of a potential deal, TikTok users have reasons to be optimistic. Several interested parties have expressed their willingness to acquire the app, and Trump has stated his intention to facilitate the negotiation to keep the platform running.
“We have many potential buyers, there’s tremendous interest in TikTok. The decision will be mine,” Trump told reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One. “I would like TikTok to stay alive.”
Here’s what we know so far about TikTok’s future as the sale or ban deadline approaches.
Last year, then-President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. U.S. lawmakers have long expressed concerns that TikTok poses a national security risk, arguing that ByteDance, headquartered in China, could be forced to hand over American user data or manipulate the app’s algorithm at the Chinese government’s request.
In January, TikTok went offline for about 14 hours and was removed from app stores in the U.S. after the initial sale or ban deadline expired. However, the app was restored after Trump announced the extension. Upon taking office, Trump extended the ban deadline by 75 days in an effort to help negotiate the sale to a U.S. owner. App stores also reinstated TikTok’s availability in February.
Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, has expressed a different stance this time. In January, he downplayed national security concerns, questioning, “Is it really that important for China to spy on young people? Young people watching crazy videos?”
Several notable bidders have emerged as potential buyers of TikTok’s U.S. operations. These include a group led by Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary. Another consortium includes social media influencer Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) and Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley. Additionally, artificial intelligence company Perplexity has also shown interest.
According to reports from Politico, NPR, and Bloomberg, Oracle—TikTok’s current technology partner in the U.S.—is one of the leading candidates to take over the app’s operations in the country. That deal could involve ByteDance retaining a minority stake while increasing investment from existing U.S. investors such as General Atlantic and Susquehanna.
Trump has also floated the idea that a newly proposed U.S. sovereign wealth fund could acquire part or all of the app, though he has not provided details on how such a deal would work.
If no deal is reached, TikTok’s technology partners—including Apple, Google, and Oracle—could face significant fines if they continue supporting the app. However, if Trump indicates that he will instruct the Department of Justice not to enforce the law, these companies may be able to continue supporting TikTok in the U.S. without repercussions.
TikTok has attempted to appeal to Trump, likely in hopes of securing his support. After TikTok was restored in January, U.S. users received a notification crediting “President Trump’s efforts” for the app’s return.
The president has also suggested that he could extend the deadline again if a deal is not reached in time. It is unclear whether a second extension would comply with the letter of the sale-or-ban law, but given the broad discretion the law grants the president in its enforcement, it could be difficult to challenge in court.
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