Recently, another executive order was signed to increase TikTok's US operations."Life Extension" 90 DaysLater, Trump revealed in a recent interview with Fox News that a "very wealthy" buyer is ready to acquire TikTok, and the relevant details are expected to be announced within the next two weeks.
According to Trump, the transaction may still require official Chinese approval, and he personally "believes" that General Secretary Xi Jinping will agree. While the identity of the buyer was not disclosed, Trump's remarks have undoubtedly rekindled market attention, especially given his recent executive order extending TikTok's US operations for an additional 90 days. Its subsequent developments will surely attract considerable attention.
TikTok's fate in the US remains uncertain, with the ban postponed several times.
Since Trump began his second term in early 2025, TikTok has once again become a policy focus. According to a previously signed executive order, if ByteDance fails to sell TikTok's US operations, the app will face removal from software marketplaces such as the US App Store, or even a complete ban.
The original ban has been extended several times, from an initial 45-day period to a 75-day period, and then again until mid-September of this year. In his interview, Trump emphasized that these extensions were "no big deal," expressing his confidence that the deal would eventually be reached.
The scale of American users is huge, and the market impact cannot be underestimated
According to the latest data, TikTok has over 1.7 million active users in the United States, making it one of the most popular social platforms among young people. Amidst the intertwined political pressures and commercial interests, TikTok's predicament has become a microcosm of the intersection of technology and diplomatic issues.
It's widely believed that if a potential buyer does make a move, it would not only need approval from both Chinese and American regulators, but also commercial approval and cooperation from ByteDance. It's unclear whether Trump's "very wealthy buyer" refers to a consortium, a corporate alliance, or a Silicon Valley giant.
The digital sovereignty and privacy debate is resurfacing, with implications beyond TikTok itself.
The current controversy surrounding TikTok is no longer limited to the operating rights of a social media platform, but rather encompasses deeper issues of data privacy, algorithm transparency, and digital sovereignty. Whether apps developed in China can continue to operate in the United States has become a highly contentious issue in geopolitics.
Regardless of whether the acquisition is ultimately successful or whether TikTok is forced to withdraw from the US market, its subsequent developments may affect the overseas strategic layouts of more Chinese technology companies, and will also affect the US's review and policy direction of foreign digital platforms.
