American TikTok users can breathe a sigh of relief—at least for now. On April 4, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that his administration is granting a 75-day extension to prevent the shutdown of TikTok in the United States. This move, reported by Reuters, comes just as the previous deadline for the app to find a new American owner expired on April 5, 2025. Trump emphasized that his team has made “tremendous progress” toward a deal that would see the popular video-sharing platform sold to a U.S.-based entity, averting a ban that has loomed over its 170 million American users.
A Last-Minute Reprieve for TikTok
The deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban had been a ticking clock since January 19, 2025. That date marked the enforcement of a bipartisan law, passed with overwhelming support in 2024, which required TikTok to separate from ByteDance due to national security concerns. For a few tense hours on January 19, TikTok went dark in the U.S., disappearing from app stores and leaving users in limbo. However, Trump, just before his inauguration on January 20, issued an executive order delaying the ban by 75 days, allowing the app to resume operations temporarily. That initial extension expired on April 5, 2025, but Trump’s latest announcement pushes the new deadline to mid-June 2025, giving ByteDance more time to finalize a sale.
Trump’s confidence in reaching a deal is evident. “We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark,’” he stated on Truth Social, adding, “We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the deal.” While the president downplays the issue, the stakes remain high for both TikTok’s users and the broader tech landscape.
Big Players Enter the Race to Buy TikTok
Adding to the drama, reports emerged on April 5, 2025, that retail giant Walmart is considering joining a group of investors to acquire TikTok, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). This follows news earlier in the week that Amazon, a tech behemoth, had also submitted a bid to purchase the platform. The interest from such major players underscores TikTok’s immense value, with its 170 million U.S. users and a highly coveted algorithm that drives its viral content. Other potential buyers, including Oracle, Blackstone, and even the founder of OnlyFans, have also been linked to the bidding process, highlighting the fierce competition to control one of the world’s most popular social media apps.
However, Walmart later denied these claims, stating that the ABC News report suggesting its involvement was incorrect, as noted in a statement to ET Retail. Despite this retraction, the speculation around Walmart and Amazon’s interest reflects the high stakes of the deal and the potential for a significant shift in the social media landscape.
Why Is TikTok Under Fire?
The push to divest TikTok from ByteDance stems from long-standing national security concerns shared by both Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could exploit ByteDance’s control over TikTok to access sensitive data on American users, including personal information and behavioral patterns. There are also worries that the app could be used to manipulate public opinion, given China’s laws that can compel companies to comply with government demands. These concerns led to the 2024 law, signed by then-President Joe Biden, which mandated ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban.
TikTok and ByteDance have consistently denied these allegations, arguing that the app poses no threat to U.S. national security. The company has also challenged the ban in court, claiming it violates free speech rights, but the Supreme Court upheld the law in early 2025, leaving ByteDance with no choice but to comply or exit the U.S. market.
The U.S.-China Trade War Adds Complexity
The TikTok saga is further complicated by the ongoing U.S.-China trade war. Trump’s recent imposition of steep tariffs—54% on Chinese imports—has strained negotiations, with China reportedly withholding approval of a TikTok deal until trade issues are addressed. Trump has hinted at reducing tariffs as a bargaining chip to secure ByteDance’s cooperation, a move that some critics argue reveals the true nature of the dispute: a mix of economic leverage and geopolitical posturing rather than purely security-driven motives.
What’s Next for TikTok and Its Users?
For TikTok’s 170 million American users, the extension offers a temporary reprieve, but uncertainty lingers. If a deal is finalized, TikTok could continue operating under new U.S. ownership, potentially with companies like Amazon or Oracle at the helm. However, if negotiations falter, the app could face a permanent ban, leaving a significant void in the social media landscape and impacting creators, businesses, and users who rely on the platform.
The broader implications of this situation extend beyond TikTok. The outcome could set a precedent for how the U.S. handles foreign-owned tech companies, particularly those from China, and may influence future trade and technology policies. For now, TikTok users can continue scrolling, but the question remains: at what cost to their privacy and the app’s future?
Tags: TikTok Ban, Trump Extension, ByteDance Sale, U.S.-China Trade War, National Security, TikTok Users, Amazon Bid, Walmart TikTok, Social Media Apps, Tech Policy, Data Privacy, Trump Tariffs