Newscasts - Trump says TikTok sale deal to come before Saturday deadline

Blender Bites

31/03/2025 07:51

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Source: 'Reuters - General news videos'

Description: President Donald Trump said a deal with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the short video app used by 170 million Americans would be struck before a deadline on Saturday. Gabe Singer reports.

Short Link: https://refini.tv/4iPwedH

Video Transcript:

US President Donald Trump says a TikTok deal will happen before a deadline this Saturday. The app is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, and Trump set the deadline back in January for it to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a US ban on national security grounds. Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that interest in TikTok was high.

We have a lot of potential buyers. There's tremendous interest in TikTok, the decision is going to be my decision, as you know, through Congress, they've given me the power to make the decision. I'd like to see TikTok remain alive.

TikTok did not immediately comment. Washington says TikTok's ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government, and that Beijing could use the app to conduct influence operations against the United States and collect data on Americans. Reuters reported on Friday that private equity firm Blackstone is evaluating making a small minority investment in TikTok's US operations, according to sources. Trump previously said he was willing to extend the April 5 deadline if an agreement over the social media app was not reached. TikTok's future has been up in the air since a 2024 law required ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19. The White House has been involved to an unprecedented level in the closely watched deal talks, effectively playing the role of investment bank.