Trump Says TikTok Sale Deal Will Be Finalized Before April 5 Deadline

President Donald Trump said a deal for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the short-video app—used by 170 million Americans—would be completed before the April 5 deadline, Andrea Shalal and David Shepardson reported for Reuters.

Blackstone is in discussions to join ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, in providing fresh capital to acquire TikTok’s U.S. business.

Trump set the deadline in January, requiring TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer or face a U.S. ban on national security grounds. "We have a lot of potential buyers," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

"There’s tremendous interest in TikTok," he added, emphasizing, "I’d like to see TikTok remain alive."

Reuters reported recently that private equity firm Blackstone was considering a small minority investment in TikTok’s U.S. operations, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Blackstone is in discussions to join ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, in providing fresh capital to acquire TikTok’s U.S. business.

This group has emerged as a frontrunner in the bidding process. Washington argues that ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok makes it susceptible to Chinese government influence, raising concerns about potential data collection and propaganda efforts.

Trump previously stated he was open to extending the April deadline if a sale agreement was not reached in time.