Trump Open to Extending TikTok Deadline Beyond June 19 if No Deal Is Reached
U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled his willingness to extend the June 19 deadline for China’s ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations, should a deal remain unresolved by then.
In an interview recorded Friday and aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said he would consider granting more time for a resolution, expressing a fondness for the platform, which he credited with helping him win support from younger voters during the 2024 election. “TikTok is very interesting,” Trump said, adding, “but it will be protected.”
TikTok, which boasts 170 million users in the United States, faces a congressionally mandated divestment deadline aimed at addressing national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership. The requirement initially set a shutdown date of January 19, but Trump – who began his second term on January 20 – chose not to enforce it. He has since extended the deadline twice, with the latest extension set to expire in mid-June.
Talks of a deal to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new American-led entity stalled earlier this year after Beijing objected to the plan, especially in light of Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese imports.
Despite ongoing behind-the-scenes work on the proposed deal, legal uncertainties loom. Several Democratic lawmakers argue that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally extend the deadline or approve a deal that doesn’t fully meet legal standards.
Trump, however, remained firm in his economic stance toward China, saying the 145% tariffs his administration has levied are taking a toll on the Chinese economy. While ruling out dropping the tariffs as a bargaining chip, he suggested they could be reduced later as part of a broader trade agreement.
“At some point, I’m going to lower them,” he said, “because otherwise, you could never do business with them. And they want to do business very much.”
The outcome of the TikTok negotiations remains uncertain, with pressure mounting as the June 19 deadline approaches and broader geopolitical and economic tensions between Washington and Beijing persist.
