TikTok’s US deal delayed again: same drama, new deadline

TikTok’s fate in the US has once again been punted down the road, proving that the only thing more endless than your “For You” scroll is this deal saga. 

According to CNBC’s David Faber, a final agreement between the US and China could still be 30 to 45 days away, leaving TikTok stuck in diplomatic limbo. 

Oracle, however, is holding steady as TikTok’s cloud partner, keeping US user data safely parked on American servers in the meantime.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to calm nerves Monday, telling reporters there’s already a “framework deal” in place. 

He even promised President Donald Trump would confirm it on Friday, just two days after TikTok’s divestment deadline expires. 

Of course, this is the fourth such deadline, because apparently, when it comes to TikTok, “extensions” are the new dance trend. Whether Trump grants another is anyone’s guess.

This all traces back to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a law with a name almost as long as the hours teens spend on TikTok. 

It basically says ByteDance has to sell off its US operations or pack its bags. 

National security concerns remain the official reason, though geopolitics and power plays are clearly doing a lot of the choreography here.

Meanwhile, reports are trickling out faster than a TikTok leak. 

The Information says the US and China have already hammered out terms for licensing TikTok’s algorithms and other intellectual property. 

CNBC adds that existing ByteDance investors could join forces to take control of TikTok’s US arm. Trump himself hinted Tuesday that “very big companies” are circling the deal.

But don’t expect fireworks when this wraps. Faber noted the buyout might actually be smaller than expected, with relatively modest checks being written. 

Forget visions of a flashy IPO, this won’t be TikTok’s Wall Street debut.

So for now, TikTok remains in its familiar state: not banned, not sold, just nervously dancing in the middle while politicians, CEOs, and investors argue offstage. 

The only thing moving faster than TikTok trends is the deadline for its US survival.

Is the repeated delay of TikTok‘s US sale deadline a sign of genuine diplomatic progress, or just political theater to avoid making a difficult decision? Do you think ByteDance will ultimately be forced to sell TikTok‘s US operations, or will this saga continue indefinitely with more extensions and framework deals? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.