TikTok awaits a potential fourth reprieve from Trump, as the identified bidder openly declines involvement
In a tense standoff, TikTok faces a looming deadline to sell its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. The deadline, set by the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act", is fast approaching on September 17, 2025 [1][3].
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick insists on American control of TikTok due to national security concerns [1]. Kevin O'Leary, a potential buyer along with Frank McCourt Jr., has labelled TikTok as "spyware" and is pushing for enforcement without further extensions [2]. Republican senators, such as Tom Cotton, Rick Scott, and Ron Johnson, are also advocating for a ban due to security concerns [6].
The deal to sell TikTok to a U.S. entity has encountered significant challenges. Despite President Trump claiming a deal is "pretty much" done, key partners like Blackstone have withdrawn from the acquisition consortium [4][5]. TikTok, in response, is planning to launch a U.S.-based version of its app in early September 2025, aiming to meet legal requirements [3]. However, the effectiveness of this measure in satisfying U.S. government concerns remains uncertain.
Kevin O'Leary finds the proposal of Bytedance offering a new version of TikTok for U.S. users laughable, stating that it would be like a Trojan horse [7]. O'Leary, Chairman of O'Leary Ventures, has presented a bid to take control of TikTok [8].
The White House has granted a temporary pass to app stores that carry TikTok [9]. However, if China does not approve a deal for TikTok US's sale by mid-September, the app may go dark [10].
The issue of TikTok's ties to China has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, with the court upholding the federal law requiring TikTok to divest its U.S. operations [5]. The Supreme Court previously paused the ban at the request of President-elect Trump to pursue a political resolution [6].
Texas is the latest state to pass a law banning foreign adversaries from buying real estate [11]. As the deadline approaches, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with the situation remaining fluid and the impending September deadline as a hard cutoff unless further political decisions emerge.
- In light of the potential nationwide ban, the future of TikTok's U.S. operations may be influenced by the real estate laws passed in states like Texas, as foreign adversaries could be prohibited from buying real estate.
- Amidst the debate, social media platforms like TikTok, plagued by concerns over national security and espionage, are now being compared to technology tools akin to "spyware."
- Despite the Supreme Court upholding the federal law requiring TikTok to divest its U.S. operations, the entertainment industry, specifically TikTok, continues to face challenges, as general news outlets report on the uncertain future of the app's existence within the country, with the upcoming deadline on September 17, 2025 serving as a significant milestone.
