The Biden administration is moving closer to finalizing a deal that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. with new ownership, Vice President JD Vance told NBC News on Friday. With the April deadline fast approaching, the negotiations have taken on a new urgency.
High-Stakes Negotiations Over TikTok’s Future
Talks over the sale of TikTok, the widely popular video-sharing app owned by China’s ByteDance, have intensified as the April 5 deadline approaches. The Supreme Court ruled in January that Congress had the authority to mandate the sale of the app, citing national security concerns.
Vance, speaking aboard Air Force Two, said a deal was “almost certainly” on track to be finalized in the coming weeks. “There will almost certainly be a high-level agreement that I think satisfies our national security concerns,” he stated.
TikTok was briefly removed from Apple and Google app stores in February before being reinstated. Despite this, uncertainty remains over whether ByteDance will comply with the forced sale or seek an extension from the administration.
Trump’s Changing Position on TikTok
Former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, has taken a different stance this time. During his first term, he signed executive orders attempting to prohibit the app in the U.S., but legal challenges blocked enforcement.
Now, his tone has shifted. On January 19, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “SAVE TIKTOK!” Then, in early February, he expressed enthusiasm about the app’s future, stating: “GREAT INTEREST IN TIKTOK! Would be wonderful for China, and all concerned.”
This pivot reportedly followed meetings with American investors who see TikTok as a valuable asset. The platform also played a role in Trump’s campaign outreach during the 2024 election, adding another layer to his evolving stance.
Who Might Buy TikTok?
Vance confirmed that President Trump has been in talks with multiple potential buyers. “We’re dealing with four different groups,” Trump said earlier this week, without identifying the companies involved. ByteDance, however, has remained silent on whether it is in active negotiations with any U.S. entity.
Several hurdles remain:
- Determining equity ownership distribution
- Ensuring compliance with national security safeguards
- Addressing legal and clerical issues related to the transition
“We’re trying to close this thing by early April,” Vance said. “The outlines of this thing will be very clear. The question is whether we can get all the paper done.”
Political and Legal Uncertainties Linger
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, emphasized that Congress’s concern lies not with TikTok itself but with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) alleged influence over its algorithm. “It’s not the platform that members of Congress are concerned about. It’s the CCP and their manipulation,” he stated on NBC’s Meet the Press in January.
Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Chew has expressed optimism about the platform’s future. In a January video message to TikTok users, he thanked Trump for his willingness to negotiate and keep the app available to U.S. users.
“On behalf of everyone at TikTok and all our users across the country, I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution,” Chew said.
With just weeks to go before the deadline, all eyes are on Washington and ByteDance to see if an agreement will be reached in time—or if further legal and political battles lie ahead.
