TikTok Sale Deal Expected Before Saturday Deadline

A deal for the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations is expected to be finalized before the April 5 deadline, according to President Donald Trump. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, March 30, Trump stated, “There’s tremendous interest in TikTok,” adding, “I’d like to see TikTok remain alive.”

The deadline was set under a 2024 law requiring ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban over national security concerns. The U.S. government has warned that ByteDance’s ownership could allow Beijing to conduct influence operations and collect data on American users.

According to sources, private equity firm Blackstone is in talks to acquire a minority stake in TikTok’s U.S. business. The firm may join existing ByteDance investors such as Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic in providing fresh capital for the deal.

Trump previously acknowledged that China would have to approve any sale and hinted at a potential tariff reduction to ease the transaction. Vice President JD Vance has also expressed confidence that a deal will be reached by April 5.

With nearly half of all Americans using TikTok, the platform’s future has been uncertain since the passage of the 2024 law. While Trump had previously suggested the deadline could be extended, his latest comments indicate that an agreement is imminent.