President Donald Trump optimistic about TikTok as deadline nears
“We have a lot of potential buyers.” President Donald Trump expressed optimism about TikTok’s survival in the U.S. ahead of a potential ban.
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump will meet Wednesday with top members of his administration to consider potential investors who could purchase a stake in TikTok to allow the popular social media app to continue to operate in the U.S., a source confirmed to USA TODAY.
The meeting, which was first reported by CBS News, will include Vice President JD Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, faces an April 5 deadline to sell its stake in the app or else be banned in the U.S. after Trump extended an earlier January deadline that was set by Congress last year. Lawmakers have sought to find a non-Chinese buyer for the app over national security concerns.
“I can extend if I want, but we have a lot of enthusiasm for TikTok, for buying it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. “I think TikTok is good.”
The private equity giant Blackstone and software company Oracle are among U.S. companies that have been in talks about acquiring TikTok stake, according to multiple media reports. CBS reported the Trump administration is also reviewing a long list of private equity firms, venture capital firms and major tech investors as other potential investors.
It was not clear whether Trump will sign off on a final TikTok deal at the meeting.
Trump on Monday did not rule out reducing the tariff rate he plans to impose on imports from China, as part of Wednesday’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs, if a deal is reached for the sale of TikTok.
“Maybe I’ll take a couple of points off if I get approvals for something,” Trump said in response to a question from a reporter. “I haven’t done it. Maybe I’ll do it, maybe I won’t. But it’s a very good question.”
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