President Donald Trump has stated that a deal to sell TikTok will be finalized by April 5, as uncertainty surrounds whether the app will face a ban in the United States.
The app was temporarily removed for US users in January when a law banning it, unless sold by its parent company ByteDance, came into effect. However, TikTok returned less than 24 hours later after Trump’s election victory, with the president signing an executive order to delay the sale or ban by 75 days.
Since then, tech companies, celebrities, and investors have expressed interest in purchasing the platform.
Has Trump Overturned the US TikTok Ban?
An executive order is a directive from the president with the force of law. Trump signed an executive order regarding TikTok’s sale or ban on January 21, shortly after his inauguration.
However, this order does not overturn the ban but rather instructs the US Attorney General not to enforce it temporarily. This action buys time for the administration to “determine the appropriate course of action” while opposing a ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the law on January 17. The Court had ruled the ban was intended to prevent China from using ByteDance to capture US TikTok users’ personal data.
Could TikTok Be Banned Again in the US?
Trump’s extension of the deadline gives ByteDance until April 5 to find a buyer for TikTok. If no deal is reached, the app could face another ban in the US and be removed from app stores.
Alternatively, Trump could allow the law to remain but instruct the Department of Justice to ignore it, effectively telling Apple and Google that they will not be punished for hosting TikTok. In this case, the law would remain in place but have little impact.
TikTok was reinstated on the App Store and Google Play Store in February after companies were assured they would not face penalties for offering it.
Trump has also suggested that he could extend the deadline if necessary.
Could TikTok Ever Be Banned in the UK Too?
Who Might Buy TikTok?
ByteDance has long stated that TikTok is not for sale, and it’s unclear if this stance has changed under Trump’s presidency.
Trump reported on March 30 that there is “tremendous interest” from potential buyers. His administration is reportedly in talks with four groups about a possible sale. He also expressed interest in a 50-50 partnership between ByteDance and the US.
Several names have surfaced as possible buyers. Trump mentioned Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Tesla CEO Elon Musk as potential buyers. Other individuals linked to the acquisition include billionaire Frank McCourt and Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, a celebrity investor on Shark Tank.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian revealed in March that he joined McCourt’s bid for TikTok, to which Musk responded that there are more people interested in buying than those who don’t.
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, the most popular YouTuber with over 300 million subscribers, also signaled his interest in purchasing TikTok after receiving offers from investors.
Tech giant Microsoft is reportedly involved in discussions as well, and US search engine Perplexity AI has even proposed a merger with TikTok.
What Other Platforms Could TikTok Users Turn To?
TikTok boasts 170 million US users, with each spending an average of 51 minutes per day on the app in 2024. Should Trump’s efforts to restore TikTok falter, platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts stand to benefit, as both offer similar short-form video content. These platforms could see a surge in traffic and advertising revenue if TikTok is banned.
Kelsey Chickering, an analyst at market research firm Forrester, noted that chief marketing officers have already indicated they would redirect advertising dollars to Meta and Google if they can no longer advertise on TikTok.
Other platforms like Twitch, which gained popularity through livestreaming, may also attract TikTok users, especially gamers. Additionally, Chinese-owned platforms such as Xiaohongshu (RedNote) have rapidly expanded in the US and UK, capitalizing on the growing demand for short-form video content.