The United States government has officially extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its American operations until December 16, 2025. This extension pushes back the original April deadline, allowing more time for negotiations and restructuring amid ongoing national security concerns.
On September 16, former President Donald Trump revealed that “a group of very big companies” had reached an agreement to acquire TikTok’s US business, although specifics were not disclosed. Shortly after, the White House confirmed the enforcement delay through an official statement.
The statement reads:
“The enforcement delay specified in section 2(a) of Executive Order 14166… is further extended until December 16, 2025. During this period, the Department of Justice shall take no action to enforce the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act or impose penalties related to noncompliance.”
Reuters reports that the deal under discussion would hand control of up to 80% of TikTok’s US operations to a consortium led by Oracle and Silver Lake, while ByteDance is expected to maintain a 19.9% stake, just under the 20% ownership cap set by US regulators.
The Biden administration has stressed the importance of ensuring TikTok’s US business is majority-owned by non-Chinese entities to address national security risks. The extension grants ByteDance an additional 90 days to finalize the sale.
High-profile investors, including YouTube star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), billionaire Frank McCourt, and investment giant Blackstone, have reportedly shown interest in participating in the acquisition, underscoring the strategic and financial significance of the deal.
About the Author
