UPDATE: Since this story was published President Donald Trump extended the pause of the ban for another 75 days. In a post on his social media platform, Truthy Social, Trump said: “My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress.”
Washington – (BrooklandNews.com) – Apr. 3, 2025 – Another TikTok ban is looming, but this time, it will be final.
The 90-day extension for ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations is set to expire, and if no deal is reached, the app could face a nationwide ban. The deal, signed by President Donald Trump after he took office, ends on April 5th, which is days away. Multiple investors have put their name in the hat, in hopes the popular company will be sold to them.
According to the Associated Press, on Wednesday (4/3/2024), Donald Trump was reportedly to have a meeting with aides on possible investors. The possible investors range widely from Oracle, the software company, and Blackstone, an investment firm. Vice President JD Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard are all said to be likely to attend the meeting.
The list of potential buyers includes some of the biggest names in tech and finance. Oracle’s Larry Ellison is leading negotiations, teaming up with Blackstone to structure a deal that aligns with the government’s security requirements. Oracle already provides cloud services for TikTok’s U.S. operations, giving it an edge.
Amazon has also formally bid, but some experts question its intentions. Is Amazon genuinely interested, or is it just testing the waters in social media?
Other names have entered the mix as well. OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely is pitching a creator-first model, promising better revenue-sharing. Real estate investor Frank McCourt is building an investment group focused on digital privacy, challenging the forced divestment order by arguing for a new ownership structure.
Trump’s shift on TikTok is one of the biggest surprises in this saga. In 2020, he pushed for a ban over national security concerns. Now, he’s calling himself the app’s “savior.”
“We have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump said—a stark contrast to his past stance. The reason for the shift? TikTok has become a major political tool, and Trump’s campaign is thriving on the platform. His growing support among young voters through TikTok suggests that banning the app could hurt him politically.
With the deadline days away, time is running out. If ByteDance doesn’t sell, the administration could attempt to block TikTok entirely. However, legal challenges from ByteDance or potential buyers could delay any ban.
This isn’t just a business deal—it’s a battle over national security, digital influence, and political strategy. Whether TikTok will remain available in the U.S. depends on whether an agreement can be reached before the clock runs out.