TikTok's sale process extended once more by Trump, allowing for possible deal completion
As the deadline for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations approaches, the sale negotiations remain complicated by geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.
President Donald Trump announced he will sign an executive order to allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. for 75 days, providing more time for a potential sale. Prominent buyers, including Amazon, Oracle, Kevin O'Leary, Elon Musk, and Mr. Beast, have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok's U.S. assets. However, the main sticking point in the sale is the algorithm, which the Chinese government considers proprietary technology.
Trump stated that he is trying to work in good faith with officials in China regarding TikTok. He believes that tariffs are the most powerful economic tool and important to national security. His actions with TikTok and tariffs are likely to cause tension with China.
In August 2025, a new U.S.-only version of TikTok, codenamed "M2," was reportedly under development to replace the existing app, contingent on the successful divestment. However, TikTok representatives have denied these specific claims recently.
The U.S. government has set a firm deadline of September 17, 2025, for ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations due to national security concerns. Despite several deadline extensions by President Trump, no definitive deal has yet been finalized. The administration indicates that failure to complete a sale by the deadline could lead to a U.S. ban on TikTok.
TikTok has rebutted some public reports about replacement apps or deals, calling them inaccurate, and negotiations remain complicated by geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. It's unclear whether there's any interest in selling TikTok without its algorithm.
Bytedance has reportedly expressed no interest in selling TikTok. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped over 1,600 points due to Trump's announced tariffs, which have affected every country, with China receiving a 34% tariff on top of the 20% already imposed.
Trump's ownership of Truth Social, his own social media platform, is in defiance of the U.S. Constitution's emoluments clause. Trump shared a video on Truth Social stating that he was "purposely" crashing the stock market.
In summary, while prominent buyers have been mentioned, the negotiations are not finalized, and the approaching September 17 deadline is critical. The deal's progression is uncertain, heavily influenced by political pressures and national security concerns, with potential outcomes ranging from a sale to a complete ban of TikTok in the U.S.
- The tech industry, including businesses like TikTok, is often influenced by geopolitical tensions and policy-and-legislation.
- Despite the ongoing complications, potential big-wins for tech companies in the future include acquisitions such as TikTok's U.S. assets.
- Gizmodo reported that the migration of TikTok from its existing platform to an U.S.-only version, codenamed "M2," is under development, but this remains contested.
- If TikTok's sale isn't finalized by the September 17 deadline, there might be war-and-conflicts related to the future of the popular social media platform.
- The casino-and-gambling industry has been following the TikTok sale negotiations closely, as the outcome could affect the trends of casino-games, casino-personalities, and sports-betting.
- Numerous lotteries and casino-culture figures have expressed interest in TikTok's operations, viewing it as an opportunity to expand their businesses.
- Las Vegas, a city renowned for its gambling scene, has been keeping a keen eye on gaming-related news, including the developing situation with TikTok.
- On the other hand, responsible-gambling advocates are concerned about potential crime-and-justice issues if TikTok is not sold, such as an increased chance of gambling addiction in its user base.
- General news outlets, covering a wide range of topics from tech to politics, have highlighted the critical role of policy-and-legislation in determining TikTok's future in the U.S.
- Trump's recent actions, including tariffs and attempts to buy his own social media platform, Truth Social, have sparked discussions in the realm of politics and the emoluments clause.
- Meanwhile, the poker community waits in anticipation for any updates on the TikTok sale, as the outcome could indirectly impact the popularity of poker and other sports.
