Another TikTok ban looms as Trump says a deal is coming—here’s what could happen next

LOS ANGELES – TikTok’s future in the US is once again up in the air. The popular video-sharing app faces an April 5 deadline to either be sold or risk being banned under federal law. 

While President Donald Trump has suggested a deal could be in the works, no official sale has been confirmed, leaving millions of American users in limbo. 

Several potential buyers—including tech investors and AI startups—have expressed interest, but major hurdles remain, including approval from the Chinese government. As the deadline nears, here’s what’s at stake for TikTok and its users.

The backstory:

Trump has indicated a deal could be imminent, telling reporters Sunday that his administration is engaged with “four different groups” interested in acquiring TikTok. However, details about the potential buyers and negotiations remain unclear.

During his first term, Trump attempted to ban TikTok, citing concerns about data privacy and Chinese government influence. Courts blocked the ban, but his administration later tried to negotiate a sale—an effort that ultimately failed. This time, with the backing of Congress, the threat of a ban remains very real.

Who is trying to buy TikTok?

While ByteDance has not confirmed plans to sell, several groups have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s US operations:

• Perplexity AI – The artificial intelligence startup proposed a merger deal that would combine its business with TikTok’s US platform.
• Frank McCourt’s consortium – The billionaire investor, along with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has reportedly offered $20 billion in cash to buy TikTok and implement blockchain-based user control.
• Jesse Tinsley’s group – This coalition, which includes Roblox’s CEO, is offering more than $30 billion for the platform.
• Microsoft – Trump has suggested the tech giant may be exploring a bid, though no formal offer has been reported.
• Steve Mnuchin & Rumble – Trump’s former Treasury secretary and the conservative video platform have also signaled interest in forming a buying group.

Trump has also floated the idea of the US government taking a 50% stake in TikTok, though it remains unclear how that would work in practice.

Will China approve a TikTok sale?

What we know:

China’s government would need to approve any sale of TikTok’s US operations, particularly if it involves TikTok’s proprietary algorithm. However, Chinese officials appear less resistant than they were last year when they called the forced divestment a “robbers’ act.”

FILE – The TikTok application is seen on an iPhone.  ((Photo Illustration by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In January, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said business operations should be independently decided by companies but emphasized that Chinese laws and regulations must be followed. This could suggest more flexibility, but it remains uncertain whether Beijing will allow a sale to go through.

What we don’t know:

If negotiations move forward, the US and ByteDance will need to resolve key issues, including the handling of TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and whether content can still be shared between US users and the rest of the world.

How the TikTok ban could play out

What’s next:

With just weeks left until the April 5 deadline, multiple outcomes remain possible:

• A sale – If ByteDance agrees to divest, TikTok could have a new owner within weeks.
• Another extension – Trump could delay enforcement again, as he did in January.
• A ban – If no deal is reached, the US could attempt to block access to TikTok nationwide.

For now, TikTok continues to operate normally in the US, but the coming weeks could determine whether millions of American users will need to say goodbye to the platform—or see it under new ownership.