President Donald Trump has stated he has a purchaser for TikTok, the video-sharing app that was banned within the US amid claims it posed a nationwide safety danger.
In a Fox Information interview, Trump stated he had a gaggle of “very rich individuals” keen to accumulate the platform. “I will inform you in about two weeks,” he teased.
A sale would wish approval from the Chinese language authorities, however Trump advised Fox he thought President Xi Jinping “will in all probability do it”.
This month Trump delayed for a 3rd time the enforcement of a regulation mandating TikTok’s sale.
The most recent extension requires dad or mum firm ByteDance to achieve a deal to promote the platform by 17 September.
The BBC has contacted TikTok for remark.
A earlier deal to promote TikTok to an American purchaser fell aside in April, when the White Home clashed with China over Trump’s tariffs.
It’s not clear if the present purchaser Trump says he has has lined up is similar because the one who was ready within the wings three months in the past.
The US Congress handed a regulation forcing TikTok’s sale in April final yr, with lawmakers citing fears that the app or its dad or mum firm might hand over US person information to the Chinese language authorities, which TikTok denied.
Trump had criticised the app throughout his first time period, however got here to see it as a consider his 2024 election win and now helps its continued use within the US.
The regulation was speculated to take impact on 19 January, however Trump has repeatedly delayed its enforcement via govt actions, strikes which have drawn criticism for overruling congressional lawmakers.
TikTok challenged the constitutionality of the regulation, however misplaced its attraction to the US Supreme Court docket.