Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism on Friday concerning the continuation of TikTok’s operations in the United States, anticipating that an agreement will be finalized before the early April deadline.
“We are very likely heading towards a high-level agreement that would meet our national security requirements and establish an independent American TikTok entity,” Vance mentioned during an interview with NBC News aboard Air Force Two.
The future of TikTok, the widely-used video-sharing application, has been uncertain since a law, effective January 19, required its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest itself of TikTok or face a ban. After taking office, President Donald Trump provided TikTok a temporary reprieve, delaying the enforcement of this statute until April 5 by signing an executive order.
Vice President Vance, alongside National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, have been appointed by Trump to identify an appropriate buyer. Recently, Trump indicated to reporters on Air Force One that the administration was negotiating with “four different groups” regarding TikTok, suggesting a deal might be reached soon.
Neither TikTok nor ByteDance has made public comments about the negotiations, and it remains uncertain whether ByteDance has reconsidered its earlier position against selling TikTok, as stated last year.
Following ByteDance’s announcement, both companies initiated a legal challenge against the federal legislation, which received bipartisan approval in Congress and was enacted by former President Joe Biden. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against ByteDance and TikTok.
According to NBC News, Vance refrained from providing specifics regarding potential buyers but acknowledged that some complexities might delay a final agreement beyond the April 5 deadline.
“We prefer to conclude negotiations without extending the deadline,” Vance told the news outlet. “The main challenge lies in determining the equity ownership of a new joint venture, contract arrangements for investors, customers, and service providers… The deal will be concise, but drafting the extensive legal documentation worries me that it might slip.”
Trump has previously indicated that the deadline for a TikTok deal could be pushed further if necessary. He has also suggested a scenario where the U.S. would hold a 50% stake in a joint venture, although specific details surrounding such a deal remain undisclosed by the administration.
